About 11% of Vietnam Population Have Blood Disorder Thalassemia Gene

More than 10 million Vietnamese, or about 11% of the country’s population, are said to carry the thalassemia gene, an inherited disorder that affects the production of hemoglobin, posing serious concerns about their quality of life, according to data released at a workshop in Hanoi last week. Of the people carrying the gene, about 20,000 people have contracted the recessive blood disorder and need treatment. At the workshop, Nguyen Anh Tri, Director of the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) and also Chairman of the Vietnam Thalassemia Association (VNTA), called on relevant health authorities to collaborate in monitoring the disease as it is a social issue that can have serious impact on the economy and way of life. The workshop was held on May 8 by the NIHBT and the VNTA to mark the International Thalassemia Day, aimed at raising public awareness of the disease and finding preventive measures. The World Health Organization set the theme this year as “Enhancing partnership towards patient-centered health systems: good health adds life to years.” The NIHBT is currently treating more than 1,500 thalassemia patients from 20 northern provinces and cities. It also provides advice on thalassemia management to 5,000 people from different parts of the country. Thalassemia is a form of inherited autosomal recessive blood disorder characterized by abnormal formation of hemoglobin. (Vietnam News Agency May 12 p5)