Today is world Talassemia Day

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Today is World Thalassemia Day. The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry has lunched several programs to eradicate Thalassemia from Sri Lanka at a cost of Rs.30 million. The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry has to spend around seven percent of its annual health budget in treating Thalassemia patients. There are about 2000 Thalassemia patients in Sri Lanka at present and the Government spends over 1.7 million to treat a single Thalassemia patient for a period of one year. Every year around 80 babies born in Sri Lanka with Thalassemia, Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said.