Thalassemia Awareness Now a Vital Part of Education

Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique presided over a meeting at the Higher Education Department on Friday.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Farrukh Naveed, Secretary of the Higher Education Department; Dr. Muhammad Waseem, Additional Secretary of the Technical Department for Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education; Dr. Yasmin Ehsan, Director General of the Thalassemia Prevention Programme; Professor Shabnam Bashir, Head of the Institute of Blood Transfusion Services; and the Additional Secretary of the School Education Department.

During the session, the health minister reviewed measures to incorporate information about thalassemia into the educational curriculum. Relevant officers provided updates on the progress of these efforts.

Khawaja Salman Rafique highlighted the critical importance of pre-marriage screening for thalassemia and shared that the Punjab government is expanding thalassemia testing facilities across the province. He stressed the need to include thalassemia awareness in the curriculum from primary to higher education levels. “We aim to raise awareness about thalassemia among students through the curriculum. Alongside government initiatives, societal involvement is essential to control this condition,” he stated.

News Courtesy:Pro Pakistani