Coming as a boon to those suffering from thalassemia, before they pass it on their newborns, a screening programme has been given a nod for Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Delhi. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has set a task force for the city.
Not only will the initiative involve screening of the antenatal mothers in all hospitals, it will involve generating awareness. Confirming the project, ICMR director Dr V M Katoch said, “There is some medical literature available which endorses that a particular community in Punjab is susceptible to the genetic disorder. The project will generate database, community carrier screening, spread awareness and screen pregnant women.”
A special task force has been established which includes Dr L K Dhaliwal, department of gynecology of PGI; Dr Gurjit Kaur, Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32; and Dr Reena Dass, hematology in PGI as its members.
“The project has been approved by the ICMR and the task force has been constituted to work on the modalities. For the region, the details have been asked from Ludhiana and Delhi besides Chandigarh,” said Dr Gurjit.
“In case both parents have thalassemia, the risk increases manifold. Though the cost of the screening is affordable, not many come forward due to lack of information. ICMR will get the screening done for free,” said Dr Gurjit. “There had been meetings held at the ICMR where the taskforce members have been asked give their proposal on how to work on the thalassemia programme,” said Dr Katoch.