Raising awareness and support for patients
Erbil center hosts events for World Thalassemia Day
ERBIL — The Thalassemia Center in Erbil held a series of events on Wednesday to raise awareness and support patients battling the blood disorder on World Thalassemia Day.
Health organizations, laboratories, a blood bank, and a charity joined forces for the event, offering patient screenings and blood donations. Pediatric patients also received gifts as part of the day’s activities.
“Every year on World Thalassemia Day, we organize various activities like blood drives and musical events,” said Saman Suleiman, Erbil’s health communication director.
Suleiman reported that 916 patients visited the Erbil Thalassemia Center this year, with two fatalities recorded. In 2023, five patients died from the disease according to the center’s data.
Per the Erbil Health Directorate, the Kurdistan Region currently has 3,510 thalassemia patients. Erbil has the highest number of cases at 1,054, followed by Duhok with 1,200, Sulaymaniyah with 856; and more patients distributed across other districts.
Halabja teachers union organizes blood drive to support area thalassemia patients
