Rs 15 lakh earmarked for Thalassemia patients: Bali

Minister for Health & Medical Education, Bali Bhagat speaking during a function at Jammu on Sunday.
Minister for Health & Medical Education, Bali Bhagat speaking during a function at Jammu on Sunday.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 8: In order to highlight and deliberate on the issues related to the Thalassemia patients, J&K Thalassemia Welfare Society (JKTWS) organized a function at Jammu Club here today.
Minister for Health & Medical Education, Bali Bhagat was chief guest whileas Principal GMC, Dr. Zahid A. Gillani was guest of honour on the occasion.
The main objective of the function was to discuss in detail the issues related to the Thalassemia, to encourage the patients and their attendants and to educate about the treatment and facilities available for them. Several speakers deliberated in length and sought more steps to help the identified patients.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that Thalassemia is a great challenge before the Government and society and called for stringent efforts to deal with the patients suffering with it. He said the Government has already flagged this disease in special category and taken several measures to deal with the patients, including granting a financial aid at Rs. 35,000 annually.
He said Government has already released Rs 15.00 lakh to Government Medical College, Jammu for strengthening the diagnostic facilities for the treatment of the Thalassemia patients. The Thalassemia Centre at SMGS hospital has been created to help the patients. He said the Government has designated two doctors to exclusively attend and facilitate the Thalassemai patients one each at Jammu and Srinagar GMCs.
The Minister called for stepping up awareness campaign to educate the masses about the disease and its preventive measures. He also lauded the efforts of the JKTWS for the noble cause and said that other social organizations should also come forward and play their role in helping the mankind and needy.
He said the Government of India will be approached for providing more funds to help the patients by way of providing free medicines, screening of patients conducting tests etc. He said the Government of India has also included the Thalassemia patients in the Divyang (Disabled) category to rehabilitate them appropriately.
President JKTWS, Er. Sudhir Sethi highlighted the achievements of the organization and said that as many as 348 patients are registered with the society, who are getting treatment in the day care centre at SMGS hospital with the necessary facilitation of the society.
Those who are actively involved in the functioning of society as advisors to deal with the Thalassemia patients for making the society free from this disease included, Dr. K.K. Koul, HoD Pathology, Dr. Rekha Harish, HoD Pediatrics, Dr. Vijay Sawhney, HoD Blood Transfusion Department, Dr. Dara Singh, Medical Superintendent, SMGS and several other prominent medicos.
Dr. K.K. Koul presented vote of thanks and highlighted the role of the JKTWS and its team.
The Minister also honored the functionaries associated with the society by presenting them mementoes.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included, Managing Director, J&K Medical Supplies Corporation, Dr. Yashpal Sharma, Mission Director, NHM, Dr. Mohan Singh, HoDs GMC, Dr. Rekah Harish, Dr. Vijay Sawhney, Medical Superintendent, SMGS, Dr. Dara Singh, functionaries of JKTWS including, Rajinder Pathak, Shammi Kapoor, Puneet Gandotra, Narinder Mahajan, V.P. Sharma, patients and their attendants.

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