CALL TO ADOLESCENT MALES TO UNDERGO THALASSAEMIA SCREENING

KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 (Bernama) -- Adolescents, especially males have been
advised to undergo screening for thalassaemia, an inherited blood disorders that
affect the body’s ability to create red blood cells.

Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said awareness of the disease
among males was still low as they accounted for only 20 per cent of 206,390
people who underwent screening last year.

He said 29,326 people took the thalassaemia test in 2008 and the figure grew
to 206,390 last year.

"I appeal and encourage more young people, especially males to take the test
as it only need to be done once in a lifetime," he said when opening the
International Thalassemia Day celebration with the theme "Thalassemia: Knowledge
is Strength" here Saturday.

His text of speech was read by Health deputy director-general Dr Hasan
Abdul Rahman.


Liow said adolescence and early adulthood was the most suitable stage to
undergo the test as intervention counselling was more effective at a young age.

He said a thalassemia prevention programme can be done at several selected
hospitals, especially those that provide thalassaemia treatment as well as 345
health clinics equipped with laboratory equipments to carry out thalassaemia
gene carriers screening.

According to the National Thalassaemia Register, to date 4,768 thalassaemia
patients have been registered compared to about 2,500 people in 2004.

Liow said at least one out of 20 people in the country was a thalassemia
carrier or approximately 600,000 per a million population.

Patients suffering from thalassemia are required regular blood transfusions.
Thalassaemia carriers do not show any signs of abnormalities or health problems.

-- BERNAMA