A thalassaemia screening machine along with a batch of reagents to cover the first 2,300 tests was donated to the Central Health Board (CHB) of Africa by The World Federation. The World Federation also agreed to cover the expenses for the trainers’ travel costs from Karachi to Tanzania to train local Technicians while CHB covered all local costs (i.e. accommodation, etc) for the trainers.

The CHB is grateful to The World Federation and to Dr. Munir Datoo, Assistant Secretary General for Health for their leadership and for their financial and moral support of this project. In addition, CHB is thankful to The Africa Federation for their leadership, continued support and cooperation to bring this project to its present stage.

On December 25, 2007 Dr. Safaraz Jafari and Mr. Muhammad Zubair, Lab Technicians from the Husaini Hematology and Oncology Trust in Karachi arrived in Dar Es Salaam for a period of 10 days to carry out training sessions on the use of the equipment. Moreover, they held workshops on the effective management of records, database and other information. These technicians also started baseline testing of the Thalassaemics at Ebrahim Haji Charitable Health Centre. CHB wishes to thank the Dar es Salaam Jamaat and the management of the Ebrahim Haji Health Centre for their cooperation and assistance. 

CHB is putting greater emphasis to create in-house expertise to drive this and similar projects for the benefit of our communities. However, the lack of skilled personnel has been a phenomenon problem facing our Institutions; developing and training personnel would be prudent to manage such projects effectively and successfully. CHB will develop a framework to start Thalassaemia screening and also setup counseling to those found positive. 

There is a plan to rollout the screening program as soon as possible, first targeting the children, starting from Dar Es Salaam and then moving to other stations.

• Thalassaemia is a genetic disease. People suffering from this disorder cannot produce adequate hemoglobin, and the red blood cells do not form properly. As a result the body and its organs are starved of oxygen.
• The disorder is classified as Alpha thalassaemia and Beta thalassaemia, the later being more fatal of the two thalassaemias.
• Individuals can be silent carriers or be thalassaemic major.
• Thalassaemia trait carriers can be healthy or sometimes suffer from minor anemia.
• Thalassaemia major patients suffer the most, especially children. They require blood transfusions every 2-4 weeks and other medical interventions to survive during their lifetimes.
• Shockingly it occurs more commonly in India, Pakistan, Africa, and other Asian countries. Because of our direct ancestry line from these population groups, thalassaemia prevalence has now increased within our communities in Africa and other parts of the world.

EDUCATION AND AWARENESS ARE VITAL FOR THALASSEMIA MANAGEMENT

• Thalassaemia CANNOT be caught. It is inherited. If both parents are thalassaemia carriers, then, for each pregnancy, there is a 25 % chance of conceiving a thalassaemic major child.
• A single Hb Electrophoresis test can be conducted to determine an individual’s thalassaemia status.
• Pre-marital thalassaemia testing and counseling are effective preventive methods.
• Avoid marrying another carrier, if you are also a carrier. 
• After marriage, if thalassaemic traits are identified in couples, it is important to seek
• counseling in order to effectively manage potential thalassaemia cases.
• Donate blood to thalassaemic patients who regularly require blood transfusion.

GET YOURSELF TESTED! IT IS THE ONLY WAY OF IDENTIFYING YOUR THALASSAEMIA STATUS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE OF REPRODUCTIVE AGES AND ARE PLANNING TO HAVE CHILDREN.

For more information, email health@world-federation.org.