Prof. Waqar Ahmed Khan M.B.B.S, M.PhilNational Medical AdvisorBangladesh Thalassemia FoundationProf. Waqar Ahmed Khan is a Professor of Pathology at Bangladesh Institute of Child Health and Senior Consultant, Department of Pathology, Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. He was graduated from Dhaka Medical College and did his M.Phil from former Post Graduate Institute, Dhaka now Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. He along with his colleagues established thalassaemia center in Dhaka Shishu Hospital premises. He is acting as the President of the center since its inception.

ASHA – Thalassemia Center is a clinic established by Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation in May 2008 to provide comprehensive care to the thalassemia patients. It is located in the heart of capital city Dhaka. The center is named after “Ashfaque Shahjahan (ASHA) Memorial Fund” in recognition of their generous financial contribution in starting the center. It consists of eight beds with capacity of giving 16 transfusions a day in two sifts. There are 5 employees for this center including a doctor and nurse. The goal of this center is to provide the patients with best possible care. The patients get day care blood transfusion, iron chelation, medical consultation, and counselling and essential laboratory tests all under one hood. We are looking forward to establish a blood bank and an in-house laboratory soon.Day care transfusionThe center is unique that it arranges blood for the patients so that patients and their guardians need not go through the hassle of procuring blood from blood banks. We give day care transfusion under supervision of a doctor. We have a skilled nurse who is expert in venepuncture in pediatric and adult patients. We follow the guideline published by Thalassemia International Federation. There is a clinical record system where the patient data are recorded and compared for monitoring progress. Laboratory ServiceAll the essential blood tests are available in this center. The blood samples are collected but the nurse and the test are carried in a nearby commercial specialized laboratory. Medical consultation & counsellingWe provide medical consultation to the patients and refer them to specialist if required. We provide counseling to the patient and families regarding treatment and prevention.Pre-natal diagnosisWe arrange prenatal diagnosis for the thalassemia carrier couple at Thalassemia DNA Laboratory at Department of Pediatric Hemato-oncology, BSMMU, Dhaka. We also have collaboration with the centers at Kolkata, India. The ambiance of the centre is really pleasant and is liked by our patients and visitors. The clinic remains open 7 days a week from 9:00AM to 5:00PM except Sunday when day care transfusion and laboratory service remain closed. Correspondence:Contact:  Riffat Laila                 Administrative CoordinatorAddress:  44/2 Chamelibagh, Shantinagar                 Dhaka 1217                 Bangladesh                 Phone: +880 2 8332481                             +880 119 084 0191                 Email: info@thals.org Few snaps of the center:

The Second International Workshop on Thalassemia was held on 7-8 March 2009 at Kolkata in India. An eight member team of physicians and patient-parents from Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation (BTF) attended the workshop.

Dr. Makhdum Ahmed received Australian Leadership Award Scholarship 2009 to study Masters of Public Health. He was strongly recommended by Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation for this scholarship. Dr. Ahmed actively volunteered in the foundation since 2007. He translated a book on Thalassemia in Bengali which is under the process of publishing. The aim of the book is to give general people an easy understanding on Thalassemia.

The Thalassemia Welfare Center, established in 2002, seeks to promote the control of thalassemia through awareness-raising campaigns and to ensure the availability of appropriate treatment to patients with thalassemia in Chittagong, Bangladesh – two goals well served by a regional scientific conference on thalassemia and related disorders held in the city on 27 June 2007.

Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF) is offering a unique advanced MSc electronic (e)- learning course in Haemoglobinopathies together with University College London (UCL), beginning on the Academic Year of 2008. This is a unique opportunity for health professionals from around the world to pursue a specialist qualification from a leading university, via distance learning. University College London (UCL), with a history and a contribution to education of more than 150 years, is part of the University of London.  A university with high academic standards and an excellent reputation in distance and electronic (e)-learning courses, all led by  internationally recognised experts and taught by distinguished faculties.

Bangladesh Thalassaemia Foundation and Bangladesh Society of Hematology jointly organized a seminar entitled “Iron Chelation in Thalassaemia: Present and future prospects” at BIRDEM auditorium in the city on December 12, 2007. Eminent specialist physicians of the country discussed about the importance of iron chelation in the treatment of thalassaemia.Chairman of the Hematology Department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and President of Bangladesh Society of Hematology Professor Dr Jalilur Rahman was present as the chief guest while President of Paediatric Society of Bangladesh Professor Dr M A Mannan and Secretary General of Bangladesh Society of Hematology Professor Dr M A Khan were present as Special Guests in the seminar.

The first DNA laboratory for diagnosing thalassaemia opened at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University on Monday, 17 September 2007. "Thalassaemia is one of the deadliest child diseases in the country. The launch of the DNA lab to diagnose the disease is a promising event," said health adviser ASM Matiur Rahman, who attended the inaugural session as chief guest. Thalassaemia is an inherited blood disease-a genetic disorder that results in a reduced rate of synthesis of one of the globin chains that make up haemoglobin. "The government is contemplating subsidising the lab to enable the poor to receive the services," the adviser said. The function was chaired by BSMMU pro-vice chancellor and head of the child Haematology and Oncology Department Dr MA Mannan. -BDNEWS24.COM, DHAKA

Prof. Dr. Suthat FucharoenInternational Medical AdvisorBangladesh Thalassemia Foundation Prof. Suthat Fucharoen, M.D., is a Professor at the Institute of Science and Technology for Research and Development, Mahidol University, Thiland. He has continuously been conducting research on thalassemia, and his findings provide insights into different types of genetic abnormality that lead to thalassemia in Thai population.