By Emanthi Marambe
Sri Lanka is a failed state regarding the control of spreading the disease Thalassemia as a country that has a higher incidence of Thalassemia, Professor of Paediatrics attached to the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Kelaniya Professor Sachith Mettananda states.
According to a survey carried out recently regarding the Thalassemia situation in the country, it has been revealed that 03% of the population is Thalassemia positive Professor Mettananda had revealed. He further said that Sri Lanka considered as the highest number of cases in the world.
Annually around 2000 children in the country are being identified as suffering from Thalassemia which is an inherited blood disorder transmitted through Genes and children are getting this disease through the genes of their Thalassemia carrier parents he had stressed.
“Other countries in the world have managed to control the spreading of this disease but sadly Sri Lankan authorities have failed to achieve that status. The main reason behind this failure is due to the myths spreading in society regarding this disease and as a result, many Thalassemia carriers are trying to hide the fact that they are carriers of this disease. If two Thalassemia carriers are getting married they will transmit the disease to their children easily and the best way to prevent such a situation is the testing of blood for Thalassemia before getting married “Professor Mettananda further stated. He revealed these facts during a Media Briefing held recently at the Health Promotions Bureau regarding Thalassemia.
