Sri Lanka becomes failed state in prevention of Thalassaemia: Paediatrician

• Nearly 2,000 Thalassaemia patients have been identified from several districts in the country
• Everyone in the country should undergo a compulsory blood test to identify the status of Thalassaemia before their marriage

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama  

Sri Lanka has become a failed state in terms of prevention of Thalassaemia, and it is revealed that three percent of Thalassaemia patients are carriers of the disease, a consultant paediatrician at the Paediatrics Department of the Kelaniya University, Professor Sachith Mettananda, said.  

Addressing the media, he said Sri Lanka is at the forefront among the countries where Thalassaemia is prevalent.  Other countries in the world where Thalassaemia is prevalent have been able to prevent the occurrence of the disease among their people, he said.   But Sri Lanka has not been able to achieve such a positive situation.  

“About 2,000 children are diagnosed with Thalassaemia annually in Sri Lanka. A marriage between Thalassaemia carriers may produce children with Thalassaemia symptoms,” Prof. Mettananda said.  “Due to the myths about Thalassaemia, most people are tempted during marriages to hide the fact that they have thalassaemia,” he said.     Nearly 2,000 Thalassaemia patients have been identified from several districts in the country.   The majority of the patients are receiving treatment from the Kurunegala, Ragama and Anuradhapura Thalassaemia Treatment Centres. “People with Thalassaemia may need a blood transfusion about once a month. Blood transfusions are very safe, but they can cause a build-up of excess iron in the body. So you will need to take medicine to remove the excess iron,” the professor said.  

Therefore, everyone in the country should undergo a compulsory blood test to identify the status of Thalassaemia before their marriage, he said.     “People should consider undergoing such a medical test as their personal responsibility,” Professor Mettananda added.