Nationwide initiatives to diagnose and prevent thalassemia launched

WITH India dubbed the 'Thalassemia capital' of the world, with the highest number of children affected by Thalassemia Major, a severe genetic blood disorder, a nationwide initiative has been launched to screen and prevent the disease at the onset, so that couples at risk can make informed choices.

- Kavita Bajeli-Datt @ New Delhi

Prevention through early identification of carriers and at-risk couples is the most effective strategy to reduce cases. To address this, the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI), comprising Indian obstetricians and gynaecologists with over 46,000 members and 286 societies, and the Veha Foundation has