Blood supply facing thalassaemia threat

The United Arab Emirates desperately needs to raise awareness of the risks of thalassaemia to increase donations to the nation's blood supply, a leading consultant has said.

"In the UAE we have a large part of the population with haematological disorders that are dependant on blood transfusions," said Dr Azzam Zoabi, head consultant in Paediatric Haematology and Oncology Department, Sheikh Khalifa Hospital, Abu Dhabi. "We are in constant need for blood supply."

Marriages between relatives are common in the UAE and there is a high incidence of consanguinity-related blood problems. Instances of thalassaemia major can be avoided with premarital screening and genetic counselling, Zoabi said, but more needs to be done to raise awareness.

"I think education and enforcing premarital testing can have a big impact on reducing incidences in the population here," he said.

"We can't force them not to marry, but we can explain the risk factors for their children...so they can think about their decision."

Thalassaemia places a considerable demand on the UAE's blood supply and Zoabi said the nation as a whole needed to contribute to avoid shortages.

"We would like to see more blood drives in the universities and the colleges across the country," he said.

Zoadi added that it is now mandatory for UAE national couples to go for premarital screening, but there was a long way to go in reducing the demands of thalassaemia on the blood-bank supply.

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