The World Thalassemia Day 2025 rally was organised under the powerful slogans “#WeAre1″ and “PatientsFirst”.
» World Thalassemia Day is observed every year on 8 May.
World Thalassemia Day 2025 Theme:
» The theme of World Thalassemia Day 2025 was ‘Together for Thalassemia: Uniting Communities, Prioritizing Patients’.
Objective:
» International Thalassemia Day aims to create awareness about the ailment and support patients, their families and health care workers with information to combat it.
» The day is dedicated to spreading awareness about serious genetic blood disorders like thalassemia and supporting people affected by it.
Celebration In India:
» The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, organized various awareness programmes on World Thalassemia Day on 8th May 2025, through its subordinate national institutions and Comprehensive Regional Centres (CRCs) across the country.
- The aim of these awareness programmes held across the country was to spread awareness about Thalassemia in the society, promote early diagnosis, and provide support to affected individuals and their families.
Background of World Thalassemia Day:
» World Thalassemia Day came into existence in 1994 after the Thalassemia International Federation (TIF) designated May 8 as International Thalassemia Day.
- The event was first organized by the Thalassemia International Federation in 1994, in memory of George Englezos, the son of TIF founder Panos Englezos.
About Thalassemia:
» Thalassemia is a genetic autosomal recessive disorder, which is inherited from one or both parents.
- It affects red blood cells due to a genetic mutation, which leads to a reduction in the alpha or beta globin chains of haemoglobin. This results in reduced production of red blood cells and reduced supply of oxygenated blood to the body parts (anaemia).
- Two types of thalassemia, alpha and beta occur, with Thalassemia Minor, Thalassemia Intermedia and Thalassemia Major being sub-categories.