File photo of HLA camp.
– Photo: Amar Ujala
Expansion
A free testing camp was organized on Friday at Maharana Pratap Bhawan in Patna for Thalassemia sufferers coming from the poor section of Bihar. Free bone marrow transplant will also be done to the patients in this camp. Maa Vaishno Devi Seva Samiti and Maa Blood Center are organizing a free HLA matching camp for the third time in Bihar for the families who are struggling to give blood to their child every 15 days throughout their life. In this camp, children below 12 years of age who have real brothers and sisters and want to undergo bone marrow transplant. He can get himself tested here. After the test, if the donor’s HLA matches 100% with the patient, then preparations will be made for their bone marrow transplant. So far, a total of 45 children have got a new life after successful bone marrow transplant through the HLA matching camp organized for the first time on 23 February 2020 and for the second time on 14 January 2022.
Mukesh Hisaria, founder of Maa Vaishno Devi Seva Samiti, said that if children suffering from thalassemia have to undergo bone marrow transplant, then their human leukocyte antigen (HLA) test is necessary. In such a situation, Germany’s ‘DKMS BMST Foundation India’, Dr. Sunil Bhatt and the team of Narayana Health, Bangalore make an important contribution in this camp. The children are sent to Germany for human leukocyte antigen testing. After testing there, it becomes clear to what percentage the sample of a child suffering from thalassemia matches that of his brother or sister. If this match is 100 percent then we proceed for bone marrow transplant.
Cost of bone marrow transplant is very high
Mukesh Hisaria told that the cost of bone marrow transplant of a Thalassemia patient is very high. In such a situation, people from poor class are not able to get transplant done. Therefore, we all should come together and be a part of the campaign to save the lives of children suffering from this disease. He told that children whose parents’ annual income is less than Rs 2.5 lakh. For his bone marrow transplant, Coal India Limited provides financial assistance up to Rs 10 lakh, Central Government Rs 3 lakh and State Government Rs 5 lakh. He said that any child suffering from Thalassemia can contact them to get themselves registered as soon as possible. For free registration, contact Jaswant Kumar, (mobile number- 9473114054), Brajesh Kumar (mobile number- 8789416636) and Sujit Gupta (mobile number- 8789449238).
Know about Thalassemia
Thalassemia is a blood disorder inherited from parents by children. Due to this disease, the hemoglobin production process of the body gets disrupted, due to which symptoms of anemia appear. It is identified only after three months of age. In this, there is severe blood deficiency in the body of the patient child, due to which he repeatedly needs blood from outside. The patient can get relief from this disease only if a bone marrow transplant is done from his immediate brother or sister. It is quite expensive.
Know what is HLA matching camp
HLA Matching Camp i.e. Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) test. Human leukocyte antigen will be tested in this camp. It is mandatory for Thalassemia patients to undergo this test before undergoing bone marrow transplant. This is a very expensive test and it is not done in Bihar. In such a situation, Maa Vaishno Devi Seva Samiti family and Maa Blood Center family are trying to give a new life to the children suffering from thalassemia of Bihar for the third time through a free camp.
