East Delta University launches campus-wide thalassaemia screening initiative
Under the programme, all students will receive awareness sessions and information on the inherited blood disorder, while those interested will be offered free thalassaemia screening funded by the university.
East Delta University has launched the "East Delta Model", a campus-based initiative combining awareness and free screening to help prevent thalassaemia, with organisers hoping it will become a model for universities across Bangladesh.
Under the programme, all students will receive awareness sessions and information on the inherited blood disorder, while those interested will be offered free thalassaemia screening funded by the university. Trained student volunteers will lead the awareness campaign.
The initiative was inaugurated on Monday by Saeed Al Noman, chairman of the university's Board of Trustees and MP for Chattogram-10.
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Speaking at the event, Saeed Al Noman said universities should play a broader role in addressing social challenges alongside providing education.
"If this university-based initiative succeeds, it can easily be replicated across other sections of society," he said.
The programme is being implemented under the supervision of BioTED, with Genex Health serving as the technical partner.
Dr Muhammad Sougatul Islam, executive director of BioTED, said East Delta University's initiative to screen all students, faculty members and staff is the first of its kind in Bangladesh.
He said experience shows that once university students become aware of thalassaemia, they are more willing to undergo screening and help spread awareness within their families and communities.
According to data presented at the event, Bangladesh is part of the global "thalassaemia belt", with about 11.4% of the population – around two crore people – carrying thalassaemia or other haemoglobin disorders. Nearly half of the carriers are between 14 and 35 years old, highlighting the importance of early screening among young people.
Experts said thalassaemia is an inherited disorder, and when both parents are carriers, each child has a 25% chance of being born with the disease. Because carriers are usually healthy and unaware of their condition, screening is the most effective way to identify them.
