The forgotten people with thalassemia in the time of COVID-19: South Asian perspective
Open Access
- 25 September 2020
- journal article
- letter
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases
- Vol. 15 (1), 1-2
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s13023-020-01543-0
Abstract
South Asia is the hotspot of beta-thalassemia, with an estimated 200,000 patients whose lives depend on regular blood transfusion. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, many countries have adopted unprecedented lockdown to minimize the spread of transmission. Restriction of nationwide human mobility and fear of COVID-19 infection has put thalassemia patients in a life-threatening situation because of an acute shortage of blood supply. As a public health preparedness strategy during a crisis like COVID-19 pandemic, the plights of thalassemia patients should be considered. Government-sponsored community blood-banks needs to be established or coverage expanded as a safety net for the thalassemia patients in lower- and middle-income countries.Keywords
This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit:
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