Summer blood shortage leaves thalassemia children struggling  

By Manahil Faisal

PESHAWAR: With the onset of summer, children with thalassemia are facing increased difficulties due to a decline in blood donations.

As temperatures rise, many people focus on coping with the heat, while thalassemia patients and their families face mounting challenges.

At the Hamza Foundation in Peshawar, blood donations have begun declining with the onset of summer, leaving families increasingly concerned.

Parents said that they are forced to travel long distances in extreme heat to arrange blood for their children.

According to officials, the issue recurs every summer. They said complications among patients increase during the season, while demand for blood rises and donations fall.

Dr Tariq, director of the centre, said that fewer people donate blood in summer despite higher demand.

“In summer, people donate less blood, while thalassemia patients require more transfusions during this period. People should come forward and donate blood. There are more than 60,000 thalassemia patients in Pakistan,” he said.

Officials said that more than 60,000 registered thalassemia patients are in Pakistan, including around 15,000 to 20,000 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Health experts say timely transfusions, regular donations and improved care can significantly reduce complications faced by thalassemia patients during the summer months.