World Thalassemia Day 2024

• The World Thalassemia Day is observed every year on May 8.
• The Day serves as a crucial platform to emphasize the importance of disease prevention, raise awareness, sensitize stakeholders, promote early detection, and ensure quality care for those affected by thalassemia.
• The theme for 2024 World Thalassemia Day is, “Empowering Lives, Embracing Progress: Equitable and Accessible Thalassaemia Treatment for All.”
• The first World Thalassemia Day was celebrated on May 8, 1994. The day was established in memory of TIF President Panos Englezos’ son, George, who fought the disease.

ABOUT THALASSEMIA:

• Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder which occurs when the body is unable to produce enough haemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells. The initial symptoms of thalassaemia are fatigue, slow growth, abdominal swelling, dark urine, etc. Thalassemia patients often develop anaemia which is why they need life-saving blood transfusions. The frequency of blood transfusions depends on the type of thalassemia.

ABOUT TIF:

• The Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF) is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation founded in 1986 by a group of patients and parents representing thalassaemia associations in Cyprus, Greece, the UK, the USA and Italy.