On 25th World Thalassemia Day Actor Jackie Shroff visits Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, takes pledge to end it by 2025

New Delhi: On 25th Thalassemia Day, well-known film star and Brand Ambassador of Thalassemics India, Jackie Shroff visited Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi and met with the patients suffering from Thalassemia and also interacted with the doctors.

Later, he also visited Blood Bank of the hospital, which has been giving free of cost blood, NAT Screened and pre-filtered blood to over 100 thalassemia patients.

Actor Jackie Shroff is the Brand Ambassador of Thalassemics India and his visit to the Ganga Ram Hospital is a part of many activities planned by Thalassemics India to re-inforce the awareness drive about this preventable blood disorder Thalassemia major.
Following the visit, he as well as hospitals staff took pledge to make India thalassemia free by 2025. Jackie Shroff has joined the mission of Thalassemics India as he has a deep connection with the noble cause. Jackie and his wife Ayesha first became aware of this delicate health condition, when they were expecting their daughter.

Speaking to media during his visit, Jackie Shroff said, “As a brand ambassador it is my responsibility to create awareness but according to me everyone is a brand ambassador and everyone should create awareness about the diseases.”
“I have joined this noble cause because my daughter once suffered from it but due to the timely treatment it was treated.”
Later, Chairman, Department of Pediatrics & Head of Thalassemia Unit at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Dr V.K. Khanna, said, “Thalassemia Major is an autosomal recessive blood disorder which gets transferred from parents to the children through the genes. It causes weakness and destruction of the red blood cells, affecting the formation of hemoglobin in the body and causes anemia causing complications like bone deformities, iron overload, cardiovascular illnesses, enlarged liver, jaundice, enlarged spleen, enlarged bones of cheeks or forehead, delayed puberty and many other complications.”

Dr Khanna further added, “Thalassemia has many types but broadly it can be classified into Major and Minor. Those who are affected with Thalassemia Major need regular blood transfusions, continuous monitoring and medications to survive. Approximate 3.4 % of the people are carriers of thalassemia and around 10,000 children are born with thalassemia major every year in India. While the lifespan is increasing with better management and care but it is a tremendous challenge for both children and the parents to manage the disorder.”