10 Dec 20
Thalassemia: Helping children living with a genetic blood disorder in Lebanon
Thalassemia is a hereditary disease caused by an alteration in the genes required to produce haemoglobin, which transports oxygen throughout the body. Left untreated, thalassemia can lead to considerably shorter life expectancies.
Treatment requires regular blood transfusions, but this causes overloads of iron which can lead to heart and liver diseases.
Thalassemia patients therefore need iron chelation (treatment) to lower iron levels in the body.
MSF’s thalassemia unit in Elias Haraoui Hospital in Lebanon provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary care, including diagnosis, blood transfusions, iron chelation therapy and psychosocial support.
