Nadra centres in Karachi now offer free thalassemia and hepatitis screening

IV Report

KARACHI: In a joint initiative, Nadra, NGOs, and two government stakeholders have set up designated desks at two Nadra centres in Karachi, offering free thalassemia and viral hepatitis screening to visitors.

A ceremony marked the installation of the desk at the Nadra Centre in Korangi-4 on August 21, attended by Sindh Health Secretary Rehan Iqbal Baloch, Nadra Sindh Director General Ahtesham Shahid, and other dignitaries.

Talking to Indus Vitals, Syed Mehdi Rizvi, CEO of Muhammadi Blood Bank, stated that the initiative aims to promote awareness and preventive measures against thalassemia and transfusion-transmitted infections. “The desk, established in collaboration with Muhammedi Welfare, offers voluntary blood tests to visitors at the Korangi Nadra centre.”

While initial response may be limited, Rizvi believes this initiative will gain momentum over time. "Visitors can opt-in for the screening, which is not mandatory and won't affect national identity card issuance," he clarified.

While talking to the media, DG Nadra Ahtesham Shahid announced that thalassemia screening desks are being established at Korangi and Safoora Goth Nadra centers in the first phase, with plans to expand to other centers as needed. “These desks will offer free testing for thalassemia, hepatitis B, C, HIV, syphilis, and malaria, in collaboration with the health department, SBTA, and Muhammadi Blood Bank.”

At the ceremony, Shahid emphasised that this initiative will be a game-changer in combating silent killers like thalassemia and other blood disorders. He noted that with nearly 500,000 visitors to Nadra centers in Karachi and Sindh, encouraging them to get tested for thalassemia would be a significant achievement.

Dr Dur-e-naz Jamal, Director of SBTA, stressed the importance of public awareness and blood testing to reduce the incidence of major thalassemia cases. She highlighted that 5% of the population may be affected by minor thalassemia, making this test crucial for unmarried individuals.

Additionally, a spokesman for Saylani Welfare Trust confirmed that a similar desk has been set up by his organisation at the Safoora Goth Nadra center.

 

With an uninterrupted 23-year career in daily journalism (1991-2013), the author/editor of this blog currently serves as Editor of Social Track, a weekly newspaper focused on social sectors, based in Karachi. Holding a master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Karachi (1990), his professional experience includes roles as senior reporter at Daily Dawn, Karachi (May 2001-August 2013) and Chief Reporter at The News International, Karachi (April 1991-May 2001). He has a strong background in development journalism, he has an extensive portfolio of news stories, analytical reports and features covering a wide range of sectors. He has had the privilege of covering numerous high-profile figures, including Pakistani presidents, prime ministers, army chiefs, foreign dignitaries, and VVIPs and attending conferences and workshops abroad. He began his journalism career in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, he has received several national awards from government and private organisations. He has contributed to various radio and TV/channel broadcasts and has also served as a trainer at workshops in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, focused on training journalists.

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