Dr. Shikha Mishra
155-Time Blood Donor Anil Verma Among Awardees; Experts Call for Greater Awareness and Voluntary Blood Donation
Thalassemia Warriors Honoured as Uttarakhand Strengthens Fight Against Genetic Disorder
Dehradun: Reaffirming the Uttarakhand government's commitment to eliminating thalassemia through awareness, early screening and quality healthcare, Director of Medical Education Dr. Ajay Arya on Monday said the Health Department is working steadfastly to prevent the hereditary blood disorder while ensuring comprehensive care for affected patients.
Addressing a seminar on "Thalassemia Prevention and Comprehensive Care" and the "Thalassemia Warrior Awards" organised by Veera Foundation at the Graphic Era Hill University auditorium, Dr. Arya said the state government is providing free regular blood transfusions and iron chelation therapy to patients suffering from Thalassemia Major. He stressed that sustained public awareness remains the key to preventing new cases of the disease.
Principal and Dean of Government Doon Medical College Dr. Geeta Jain said specialised facilities for Thalassemia Major patients have been established at District Early Intervention Centres (DEICs) in Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital and Almora. She informed that counselling, diagnostic investigations and screening programmes are being strengthened across the state, while the HbA2 test has been made free of cost to facilitate early detection of carriers. She also emphasised the need for more voluntary blood donation camps to ensure an uninterrupted supply of blood for patients dependent on lifelong transfusions.
The seminar brought together leading medical experts, academicians and healthcare professionals, who delivered presentations on various aspects of thalassemia, including genetic inheritance, carrier detection, premarital and prenatal screening, diagnosis through CBC, HbA2, HPLC and haemoglobin electrophoresis tests, treatment options such as bone marrow transplantation, stem cell therapy, gene therapy, iron chelation therapy, anaemia management, and the importance of voluntary blood donation. Experts also addressed questions from students, patients and their families, helping dispel myths and increase awareness about the disorder.
The event also celebrated individuals and organisations making exceptional contributions to thalassemia prevention, blood donation and public awareness. Among those honoured with the Veera Foundation Thalassemia Warrior Award was Dr. Anil Verma of the Indian Red Cross Society, Dehradun, who has donated blood an extraordinary 155 times, setting an inspiring example of humanitarian service.
Other distinguished awardees included Col. (Dr.) Jasjit Singh, Senior Consultant in Clinical Haematology at Graphic Era Institute of Medical Sciences; Prof. Dr. Tabassum Naqvi, Vice-Chancellor of Graphic Era Hill University; Dr. Ratan Mani, Manager and Counsellor at DEIC, Coronation Hospital; Dr. A.S. Uniyal, Joint Director, Higher Education; Advocate Anjana Sahni; Dr. Shashi Upreti of Doon Hospital Blood Bank; Dr. Sanjay Upreti of IMA Blood Bank; Dr. Tanvi Khanna of Shri Mahant Indiresh Hospital; Dr. Sangeeta Rawat, Dr. Anjum Agrawal, Puneet Kauda, Dr. Shiv Mohan Shukla, Dr. Swati, Pushpdhar, and several others for their outstanding contributions in healthcare, education, voluntary service and social awareness.
Welcoming the guests, Vinod Dobhal, Chief Operating Officer of Veera Foundation, highlighted the organisation's work as a non-profit NGO in the fields of education, healthcare, environment, livelihood generation, skill development and public awareness. He urged greater community participation in blood donation and preventive health initiatives to eliminate thalassemia from society.
The programme was attended by students, thalassemia patients, parents, healthcare professionals, social workers and volunteers, reflecting a shared commitment to building a healthier and more compassionate society. Speakers repeatedly emphasised that every unit of donated blood can save a life, while early screening and informed decision-making remain the most effective tools for achieving a thalassemia-free Uttarakhand.
