HLA screening camp for thalassemia patients at SKMCH, PMCH on July 4-5
PATNA, June 26 -- Screening camps for matching human leukocyte antigen (HLA) among siblings of patients with thalassemia, a blood disorder, will be held at the Sri Krishna Medical College Hospital (SKMCH), Muzaffarpur, on July 4, and at the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) on July 5, said a press release quoting Mangal Pandey, Bihar's health minister, on Wednesday.
Those whose bone marrow matches fully with their siblings will be shortlisted for bone marrow transplant, as a cure for thalassemia.
"The bone marrow transplant of 350 patients with thalassemia in Bihar is to be done, as part of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the state and the Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore. The HLA screening camps in Muzaffarpur and Patna are being organised as part of the government initiative to facilitate bone marrow transplant of all such patients whose HLA matches fully with their siblings," the release quoting Pandey said.
Arrangements have been made to match HLA of 150 thalassemia patients at the PMCH and 200 at the SKMCH, the release added..
Pandey said that the health department was making several efforts for better treatment of patients with thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder that affects the production of haemoglobin in the body. The Bihar government fully sponsors the bone marrow transplant of such children at CMC, Vellore.
Human leukocyte antigen samples of patients and their siblings (donors) will be taken at the screening camps so that HLA matching can be ensured for bone marrow transplantation. All the patients participating in the screening will be required to bring their medical documents related to thalassemia and Aadhaar card of parents and their siblings.
"The government is making every possible effort for the treatment of patients with thalassemia. This camp will be a meaningful initiative towards giving them a new life," said Pandey.
The health minister added that the government was trying to ensure effective treatment of diseases like thalassemia and provide necessary help to the needy....
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