The College of Science for Women, Department of Media and Government Communication, in collaboration with the Continuing Education Unit and the Ministry of Health, organized an awareness workshop on “Thalassemia and the Dangers of Smoking.”
The session was presented by Dr. Israa Majed from the Department of Reproductive Health, Dr. Waseem Kilan from the Department of Non-Communicable Disease Prevention and Control, and Ms. Suha Younis from the Department of Health Promotion at the Ministry of Health. The workshop was attended by faculty members, staff, and students of the college.
The event aimed to raise awareness about thalassemia, a genetic disorder caused by a defect in hemoglobin, which reduces the blood’s ability to transport oxygen effectively, leading to continuous health problems.
The session covered key clinical symptoms and signs, such as acute anemia, low hemoglobin levels, fatigue, yellowing of the skin and eyes, spleen enlargement, and growth delays. It also discussed important treatment methods, including blood transfusions, stem cell transplantation, and gene therapy.
Additionally, the workshop stressed the importance of pre-marital screening to detect whether one partner carries the disease. The significance of promoting public health awareness to minimize the impact of thalassemia in society was also highlighted.
