JSS to help thalassaemia patients

Rajamahendravaram: Jain Seva Samithi (JSS) president Vikram Jain has said that it will conduct many programmes in connection with International Thalassaemia Day scheduled be held on May 8 to bring awareness among the people on the deadly disease.

Speaking to reporters at River Bay Resorts here on Friday, he said as part of the programme, 5K run will also be conducted on May 5 at 6 am from Pushkhar Ghat covering Devi Chowk and Kambala tank, followed by a rally on May 7 by chamber of commerce from Fortgate to Vijaya talkies and cultural programmes at Pushkar Ghat by thalassaemia afflicted children and on 8th Bullet rally from Pushskar Ghat to River Bay Resorts.

Later, a mega blood donation camp will be commenced in which as many as 1,000 persons donate blood as against of 600 persons last year. JSS was conducting the programmes for five years in the city. Blood should be injected to thalassaemia patients frequently and for that JSS is conducting mega blood donation camp, he said.

Thalassaemia disease can be cured with bone marrow surgery which was available in Bangalore and the cost of each surgery will be Rs 45 lakh. But the hospital authorities agreed to perform surgery for Rs 15 lakh to each patient. JSS identified as many as 105 thalassaemia patients in the district and this year it has decided to perform surgeries to 15 patients which cost Rs 1.45 crore. "We are expecting donations from the philanthropists and corporates and others for the surgeries," he added.

Chamber of Commerce former president Ashok Kumar Jain underlined the need for thalassaemia diagnose and service centre in the city as many thalassaemia patients are in the district. He also demanded that the government include thalassaemia in Arogya Sri Scheme for the benefit of the patients. The issue will be taken to the notice of the government shortly. He appealed to the people to extend their help for performing surgeries to thalassaemia patients. Bherulal Jain and others were present.