Conference on thalassaemia

JAKARTA: The University of Indonesia and Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital will hold the 2nd ASEAN Thalassaemia conference here between Sept. 8 and Sept. 10, Antara reported yesterday.

The first conference, held in Penang in 1995 by the Thalassaemia Society of Penang, led to the establishment of the ASEAN Thalassaemia Society, which is chaired by Ruswandi of Indonesia.

Some 2,000 Indonesian children suffer from thalassaemia, a disease related to a red blood cell production disorder.

In 1984, parents of children afflicted with the disease set up the Thalassaemia Foundation.

Taking up the theme of "Better Understanding and Management of Thalassaemia", the conference will focus on discussing thalassaemia in Indonesia and other ASEAN countries, and how to find better ways of detecting and handling the disease. (swe)