Prominent tourist landmarks in the UAE were illuminated in red on the occasion of World Thalassemia Day, which is celebrated on May 8 every year. The initiative aims to raise awareness about the disease, its symptoms, and ways to cope with it, sending a message of support and solidarity to patients in the country and around the world.
This initiative included the lighting of "Dubai Frame," "House of Wisdom" in Sharjah, "Al Husn Roundabout" in Ajman, "Umm Al-Quwain Museum," "Ras Al Khaimah Museum," and "Falcon Roundabout" in Fujairah, and is part of the Ministry of Health and Community Protection's activities to support the efforts of the Emirates Thalassemia Society. These efforts also include the distribution of awareness films by the Emirates Thalassemia Society in all primary healthcare centers under the Emirates Health Services Foundation, premarital screening centers, and the distribution of educational flyers in Arabic and English to government and private institutions. Furthermore, visual awareness materials will be published, and awareness lectures will be conducted by doctors for those planning to marry.
The Ministry aims to raise awareness about the importance of medical screening before marriage, which helps to avoid many hereditary and familial diseases and reduce the spread of certain hereditary blood diseases. It also seeks to educate the community about thalassemia, its complications, how to properly interact with patients, alleviate the suffering of those with hereditary blood diseases, and continuously serve them to integrate them into society and improve their quality of life.
The awareness campaigns organized by the ministry, health authorities, and the Emirates Thalassemia Society have contributed to increasing knowledge of hereditary blood diseases and their types, enhancing the community's awareness about how to avoid them. This solidifies the role of the UAE as a leading nation in caring for people with hereditary blood diseases, distinguishing it locally, regionally, and internationally.
Premarital screening is mandatory for couples intending to marry in the UAE to ensure they are free from hereditary, infectious, and sexually transmitted blood diseases to guarantee their health and safety and prevent the transmission of infections among them or to future generations.
It is noteworthy that thalassemia is a hereditary blood disorder that leads to a lower-than-normal level of hemoglobin in the body and is often associated with consanguineous marriages. It is estimated that around 300,000 to 400,000 children are born annually with hemoglobin disorders, the majority of whom are in low- and middle-income countries. Thalassemia requires periodic blood transfusions throughout life to compensate for the low level of hemoglobin in affected individuals, necessitating a constant supply of blood.
