Alkhidmat Foundation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (AKF KP) organized a World Thalassemia Day awareness walk and seminar in Peshawar, where speakers called for coordinated efforts by the government, media, religious leaders and civil society to help prevent the spread of the disease.

The seminar, held at Alkhidmat Hospital Nishtarabad Peshawar, was attended by Prof. Dr. Hafeezur Rehman as a chief guest, President Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan, Khalid Waqas, President AKF KP, Captain (R) Sanaullah Khan, Deputy Commissioner Peshawar,  Muhammad Shakir Siddiqi, General Secretary AKF KP, Arbab Abdul Haseeb, Vice President AKF KP, Iftekhar Ahmed, President AKF Peshawar, Dr. Naveed Sharif, and Dr. Intikhab Alam, among others.

Addressing the seminar, speakers said thalassemia prevention required greater public awareness and precautionary measures, particularly premarital screening and testing. They said the disease, which is inherited from parents, could largely be controlled through preventive strategies rather than treatment alone.

Speakers noted that countries including Italy, Greece, Iran, Egypt and Bangladesh had significantly reduced thalassemia cases through awareness campaigns and mandatory screening measures.

They said around 5,000 new thalassemia cases are reported annually in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, describing the trend as alarming. Speakers also stressed the need for effective implementation of laws requiring thalassemia screening before marriage.

Officials said more than 1,300 thalassemia patients from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab are registered with Alkhidmat and regularly receive free blood transfusions and medical care.
On the occasion, the chief guests also visited the Alkhidmat Blood and Diagnostic Center and cut a cake with children with thalassemia to mark World Thalassemia Day.

At the end of the event, commemorative shields were presented to guests, while certificates were distributed among teachers and students from educational institutions in Peshawar for donating blood for thalassemia patients.