World Thalassemia Day is celebrated on 8th May every year to strengthen the determination for raising awareness among the general public about this genetic disease. This day also emphasizes the need to support thalassemia patients, particularly regarding their need for blood transfusions. The Department of Pathology, UMDC, has been celebrating World Thalassemia Day for many years through seminars, workshops, and quiz competitions. This year, World Thalassemia Day is observed through an awareness seminar, which included an insightful lecture by Dr. Falakgir, Head of the Thalassemia Center at Hilal-e-Ahmar Hospital, Faisalabad. The seminar is followed by a video competition featuring students from the 3rd and 4th years of the MBBS program.
The proceedings began with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran and a Naat-e-Rasool-e-Maqbool (ﷺ). Dr. Falakgir highlighted various aspects of the disease, including diagnostic approaches, screening methods, and prevention strategies. He also discussed a groundbreaking legal development: the ordinance passed to include thalassemia trait screening in the Nikah Naama, aimed at minimizing the disease burden. The session was further enriched by the presence of Dr. Usman Ansari, Professor of Hematology and Staff Pathologist at AKUH, who emphasized the importance of CBC and Electrophoresis in diagnosing thalassemia.
Following the presentation, the selected videos were played and appreciated by the audience. These videos were assessed by a panel of distinguished judges, including Dr. Shirza Nadeem, Vice Principal of UMDC, Dr. Sumaira Shehzad, HOD of Community Medicine, and Dr. Amber Salman, Associate Professor of Anatomy. The award-winning videos included live interviews with patients and their parents, sharing their struggles and emphasizing the importance of screening before marriage.
The stage was honored by the presence of the Principal of UMDC, Prof. Dr. Akram Malik, who presented prizes and certificates to the winning teams from the 3rd and 4th years of MBBS. Dr. Falakgir was also presented with a shield of acknowledgment by Prof. Dr. Akram Malik, Principal of UMDC, who offered his vote of thanks to the guest speaker. The event was concluded by Professor Dr. Shazia Aslam, HOD of the Pathology Department at UMDC. She expressed her gratitude to the guest speaker, guests, and faculty members for taking the time to attend. Dr. Shazia also appreciated the efforts of the students and faculty members of the Pathology Department for making this event a success. The seminar ended with the National Anthem.
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