• International Thalassemia Day is celebrated every year on the 8th of May to re-emphasize the importance of prevention of the disease.

• This year's theme includes: "Empowering Lives, EmbracingProgress: Equitable and Accessible Thalassemia Treatment for All."

• Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder, affecting 10,000 births every year.

• This international thalassemia day, the Secretary of MoHFW stressed on few points to curb the rising prevalence of thalassemia.

• These salient points include the following:

1.  The most effective strategy to reduce the burden is timely detection and prevention

2.  Refocus on the need to increase awareness campaigns

3.  Inclusion of compulsory thalassemia testing in RCH programmes

• To increase awareness of the disease, a video was launched reiterating the effective prevention and treatment methods.

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