Objective:
PTGD Sargodha Region organized a Thalassemia Seminar, Awareness Walk, and Screening Camp at Sargodha Medical College. The event highlighted thalassemia awareness, emphasized PTGD’s vital preventive role and free thalassemia testing services in the Sargodha Division, and motivated medical students to lead by example in promoting premarital screening.
Chief Guest:
Prof. Dr. Waris Farooqa
The Principal, Sargodha Medical College
Guest Speakers:
Prof. Dr. Khawaja M. Arshad (Professor of Peads, Sargodha Medical College)
Prof. Dr. Tahira Tabassum (HOD Pathology, Sargodha Medical College)
Mr. Muneeb Rahmat, (Regional Head, PTGD Regional Center, Sargodha)
Attendees:
Medical students, Faculty and Staff
Proceedings:
PTGD Sargodha Region, in collaboration with the Patient Care & Blood Donation Society (PCBD) of Sargodha Medical College, organized a Thalassemia Awareness Seminar, Walk, and Screening Camp at Sargodha Medical College on the topic “Importance of Premarital Screening & Role of PTGD in Prevention of Thalassemia.”
Prof. Dr. Waris Farooqa (Principal, Sargodha Medical College) graced the event as Chief Guest, while Prof. Dr. Khawaja Muhammad Arshad (Professor of Pediatrics, SMC), Prof. Dr. Tahira Tabassum (HOD Pathology, SMC), and Mr. Muneeb Rahmat (Regional Head, PTGD Sargodha Region) served as Guest Speakers. The program began with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an and Naat-e-Rasool Maqbool (SAW).
Prof. Dr. Khawaja Muhammad Arshad shared valuable insights on thalassemia, focusing on its symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. Mr. Muneeb Rahmat emphasized the vital role of PTGD in thalassemia prevention and highlighted the availability of free preventive services in the Sargodha Region. Prof. Dr. Tahira Tabassum appreciated the government’s initiative for thalassemia prevention and encouraged students to benefit from the complimentary thalassemia screening.
As the Chief Guest, Prof. Dr. Waris Farooqa praised the Guest Speakers for promoting thalassemia awareness in Sargodha and highlighted PTGD’s free preventive services as a landmark achievement in the journey toward a Thalassemia-free Pakistan. He encouraged students to opt for their premarital screening from PTGD (Govt. of Punjab). A symbolic awareness walk was also held in college, followed by the inauguration of the Screening Camp by the Chief Guest and Guest Speakers, where 60 students availed their thalassemia testing before marriage. The students greatly valued the enlightening and thought-provoking addresses delivered by the distinguished speakers and expressed their appreciation to PTGD Sargodha Region for organizing the Thalassemia Awareness Seminar and Screening Camp. They also pledged their support to Mr. Muneeb Rahmat in spreading PTGD’s message “Get your Thalassemia test before marriage for thalassemia free Pakistan, as prevention is better than cure” among their colleagues and social circles.
