Thalassemia patients in the state have asked the state government to grant them physically challenged status, so that they get reservations in government jobs.
A special programme was organized here on the occasion of World Thalassemia Day to create awareness among the people about the genetic disease and to make people understand the problems of the patients.
The programme was attended by hordes ofthalassemic patients and their parents from across the state. State health minister Damodar Rout was the chief guest of the programme.
"The quality of life of thalassemic patients would improve if they are granted the same rights as physically handicapped people. Thalassemia is a genetic disease and the patients are dependent on a blood donor for entire life so they should also be included in the physically handicapped category," said Mruntunjay Kar, president of All Odisha thalassemia patients and parents' association.
The patients also requested the state government to open a special daycare centre at Central Red Cross blood bank, where the patients get all kinds of facilities under one roof. The thalassemics also urged the state government to provide free medicines and free pathological test facilities to them at blood banks across the state.
"An exclusive ward in blood banks would make blood transfusion and other treatment facilities easier for thalassemics," said Rabindra Das, the father of a thalassemic patient. There are at least 714 thalassemia patients in Cuttack district, while the number is over 10,000 in the state.
"The state government should also provide free education to thalassemic children as their poor parents face serious financial constraints for their treatment and also fail to provide them quality education," added Kar.
Speaking on the occasion, health minister Damodar Rout said the state government would create more facilities for thalassemia patients in the state.
Source : T.O.I , 9th May 2013
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