A project aiming to reduce the number of Thalassemia sufferers carriedout in the northern mountainous province of Hoa Binh in 2009-2014 hasproven effective, helping raise public awareness of the disease.

Itwas reported at a conference in the locality on December 25 that HoaBinh is one of the localities having the highest rate of people carryingthe gene that causes this disease. As many as 13,000 students and 3,800pregnant women in the locality were identified to have the gene duringthe project time.

The provincial People’s Committee asked itsinferior authorities and relevant agencies to boost communication worksas part of efforts to reduce the development of Thalassemia in thelocality.

Over the last five years, t he pilot projectorganised a number of training courses for local medical workers, andresearch projects in the field were also implemented. The localcommunity was equipped with preventive measures against the disease.

In2015, the project will be further expanded in all districts and towns.Activities related to communication works, training, screening test, andprenatal consultancy will be also intensified.

Thalassemia is aform of inherited autosomal recessive blood disorders characterised byabnormal formation of haemoglobin. It can cause significantcomplications, including iron overload, bone deformities andcardiovascular illness.-VNA