Saudi Minister of Health Dr. Hamad Bin Abdullah Manea patronized the opening of an international conference on thalassemia disease and sickle-cell anemia at the Riyadh Marriott hotel on Wednesday. The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF), organized the conference, under the title of “hand in hand towards a better life.” Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Ali Al-Qahtani, the Director General of hospitals at the ministry, said the organization of this conference comes in the framework of the ministry's persistence to disseminate awareness among the community of the dangers of thalassemia and sickle-cell anemia, which is commonly observed in Saudi Arabia, especially in its Southern region, Eastern Province and Madina region, and is primarily caused by inter-relative marriages in these areas. Dr. Abdullah Al-Jafry, the Chairman of the organizing committee, said thalassemia and sicklecell anemia are one of the most deadly inherited diseases, especially as it requires continuous treatment of the infected patient, which will lead to the emergence of physical, social and psychological burdens to the infected patients and also to their families. Panos Englezoz, President of the TIF, appreciated in his speech the support of the government to eliminate these two dangerous diseases. The Minister of Health explained that his ministry is facing a humongous challenge to better deal with these two diseases. He highlighted, in a speech, the King's resolution for mandatory examination before marriage, which led to reducing the incidence of these diseases, pointing out that the percentage of those who complete the marriage after the emergence of the test results were positive in the first years of application reached 90 percent, it decreased to 68 percent last year, and hopefully the ratio will be zero soon. Thalassemia, according to TIF, is the name of a group of genetic, inherited disorders of the blood. More specifically, it is a disorder of the hemoglobin molecule inside the red blood cells. It is a hereditary genetic disease, i.e. a disease that is passed from parents to children through the genes. It is not infectious and cannot be passed on from one individual to the other by personal or any other contact, or through blood, transfusion, food or air. The two main types of thalassemia are alpha and beta. Both affect the production of normal hemoglobin – a key constituent of human red blood cells. Other abnormal types of adult hemoglobin, also known as structural hemoglobin variants, have been identified, and these include mainly hemoglobin S (HBS), hemoglobin E (HBE), C, D. Sickle-cell disease or sick-cell anemia (or anemia), however, is a blood disorder characterized by red blood cells that assume an abnormal, rigid, sickle shape. That decreases the cells' flexibility and results in their restricted movement through blood vessels, depriving downstream tissues of oxygen. The disease is chronic and individuals are most often well, but their lives are punctuated by periodic painful attacks and a risk of various other complications. Life expectancy is shortened, with older studies reporting an average life expectancy of 42 and 48 years for males and females, respectively.
