Thalassemia Test Now Necessary Before Marriage

Thalassemia (genetic disorder) is on the increase in Pakistan

Lahore (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 22nd January, 2019) The Compulsory Blood Test of the Spouses and Proposed Spouses for Thalassemia Disease Bill, 2018 was introduced in the Senate on Monday.

The bill was referred to the standing committees concerned; following which it will be approved.

Thalassemia (genetic disorder) is on the increase in Pakistan where lack of knowledge and ignorance continues to complex the problem. Thalassemia is a hereditary condition of blood, affecting the red blood cells that leads to their absolute or virtual deficiency in the body and ultimately makes the patient transfusion dependent for the rest of life.

Pakistan has an estimated carrier rate of 8-10 percent (around ten million people) of Thalassemia Minor whereas annually almost 6-8 thousand children are born with the deadly disease of Thalassemia Major.

Sustained survival of the affected individuals depends on regular blood transfusions on once and at times twice monthly basis; hence it is the biggest burden on our transfusion centres. Despite all this, very little is known about it to the general public and the fact that it can be prevented by proper and timely screening.

Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder. The genes received from one's parents before birth determine whether a person will have Thalassemia.

Thalassemia cannot be caught or passed on to another person.

The clinical severity of Thalassemia varies tremendously depending on the exact nature of the genes that a person inherits. Diagnosis of Thalassemia trait may be suspected from an ordinary blood test Complete Blood Count (CBC) but HB Electrophoresis test is the confirmatory test to diagnose Thalassemia. This inexpensive test can save our future generation from lifelong trauma of Thalassemia major disease.

Punjab Health Department had opened a discussion on proposed Thalassemia Bill, which has been drafted for prevention of the blood disease.

According to the draft bill, all males residing in the country would have to undergo testing for their Thalassemia status before marriage.

In case a male is diagnosed as Thalassemia minor, the would-be spouse would also have to undergo screening.

Under the bill, a couple having Thalassemia gene in one individual could marry but if both are Thalassemia carrier, then they would be advised to conduct pre-natal test during the initial stage of pregnancy to avoid birth of a Thalassemia child.

Amendments to the current Nikkah-nama are also proposed in the draft Thalassemia Bill 2018.