Conference on thalassaemia

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)