i-Thalassaemia


KOTA KINABALU:Sabah Health Department has recently developed a database "i-Thalassaemia" to track and educate carriers about the disease to reduce new cases of Thalassaemia patients in future.
  As of June of this year, 1,450 out of 2,909 diagnosed as Thalassaemia carriers in the country are from Sabah.
  A healthy Thalassaemia carrier if marries with another carrier might pose possibility of having children who will need blood transfusion on monthly basis.
  Its director Dr Christina Rundi said the database kept personal details and number of patients who had underwent screening for Thalassemia across the state.
  "As there are many other non-commuinicable diseases to be monitored, this technology helps personnel to handle bulky data specifically for thalassaemia in a more systematic manner.
  "At present, i-Thalassaemia is being managed by a group of health personnel based in Queen Elizabeth hospital here," she said, adding that the expansion of the system will take place at other districts in state soon.
   Meanwhile, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Hilmi Yahaya also added that the ministry's national thalassaemia registry had also provided a wide range of data on Thalassaemia trend and distribution in the country.
  "Based on complication and lifespan regrading to thalassaemia, the ministry could assess the effectiveness of treatment and regime for patients.
  "Besides that, health personnel could also evaluate and programmes (preventiona and control) to further increase awareness and knowledge for the people,"he said during a recent National Thalassaemia seminar here.  
   Ends.

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