With the arrival of summer, children suffering from thalassemia are encountering heightened challenges due to a noticeable decrease in blood donations. As temperatures soar, while many focus on managing the heat, families of thalassemia patients face increasing hardships securing necessary blood supplies.
At the Hamza Foundation in Peshawar, officials have observed a decline in blood donations coinciding with the summer season, raising concerns among parents. Many families are compelled to travel long distances under extreme heat conditions to obtain blood for their children.
This issue is a recurring problem every summer, health center representatives. They highlight that complications among thalassemia patients tend to rise during this period, while the demand for blood transfusions increases and donations simultaneously decrease.
Dr. Tariq, the director of the Hamza Foundation, emphasized that despite the growing need for blood transfusions in summer, fewer donors come forward. He urged the public to donate blood, noting that Pakistan has over 60,000 registered thalassemia patients.
Officials further stated that out of these patients, approximately 15,000 to 20,000 reside in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Health experts stress that timely transfusions, consistent blood donations, and enhanced medical care can greatly reduce the complications faced by thalassemia patients during the hotter months.
