Why is Pakistan still suffering from Thalassemia?

Words by Rimsha Qasim

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This is a rare vintage poster for Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's 1994 concert at London's most iconic venue, the Royal Albert Hall. The audience was slowly drawn in, first through the plush harmonium, beautifully played by Khan's brother, and then constant murmur of tabla and the hand claps of the group's chorus.  The night started out with one of Khan's signature songs: "Allahoo" [God Is], which is a 'hamd,' or praise song, and the traditional way of opening a qawwali performance. He ended the concert with the iconic song, "Mast Qalandar." Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was just 48 when he died in August 1997. His music could never be constrained by borders, or stashed away in a drawer. His death sparked a global state of mourning. (Available now as print)

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Why is Pakistan still suffering from Thalassemia

Children with Thalassemia are in dire need of blood.

Thalassemia - a disease that is now termed chronic is still claiming lives in Pakistan. Over 5,000 children are diagnosed as β-thalassemia carriers annually in Pakistan. A majority of 2000 cases have been recorded in the province of Baluchistan alone. Pakistan has over 10 million carriers in its total population. It is a highly prevalent disease in Pakistan without any innovative and effective management strategies. The accurate burden of the disease is unknown as no established surveys fully report and provide a complete picture of how exactly and to what extent this disease affects the Pakistani population. Hence, no strategic planning regarding this disease has ever come to pass. Thalassemia has two types: Major and minor. It is a genetic disease that carrier parents can pass on to their children. The huge problem is that carrier parents may never know they have Thalassemia until they give birth to a child with Thalassemia major or get a blood test before marriage. A notable example of a carrier patient is Amitabh Bachchan, a Bollywood celebrity who is a thalassemia minor carrier. It is one of the most common single-gene disorders in the world. The life expectancy of people suffering from this disease is about 45-50 years. Mediterranean countries, North Africa, the Middle East, India, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia are majorly affected by this blood disorder. The World Health Organization (WHO) has prioritized the control of Thalassemia.