Rotary International is the first NGO in the world which is 110 year old organisation existing in more than 200 countries.  Rotary Dist 3140 is in the jurisdiction of Mumbai & Thane revenue district & organising need based community project, since last 85 years. On February 08, 2015, it has launched the blue print of Thalassaemia Free Mumbai & Thane project at the District Medical Education Seminar at Haffkine Institute, Mumbai by the hands of Governor of Maharashtra CH Vidyasagar Rao.

CH Vidyasagar Rao, says, “Integrated medical approach looks promising and we are hopeful that conventional medicine supported with alternate medicine will surely create a better & a healthy life. Vision 2020 is also a positive step towards making a Thalassaemia Free Mumbai, Navi Mumbai & Thane”.

Rotary Dist 3140, under the leadership of Dr Lalit Katkar,a paediatrician & his team have developed a project “Thalassaemia Free Mumbai & Thane-VISION 2020”,which will be implemented for 6 years. Mumbai University, Association of Practicing pathologists of India (APPI), Mumbai Association of Gynecologists & Obstetricians (MOGS), National Security Scheme (NSS), THINK Foundation, and Leaders of High risk communities have assured all the cooperation & active help in this project.

Thalassemia is a genetic disorder, inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, Worldwide, 15 million people have clinically apparent thalassemic disorders. Reportedly, there are about 240 million carriers of b-thalassemia worldwide, in India alone, the number is approximately 30 million with a mean prevalence of 3.3 per cent.

Every year approximately 1,00,000 children with Thalassemia are born world over, of which 10,000 are born in India. It is estimated that there are about 65,000-67,000 b-thalassemia patients in our country with around 9,000-10,000 cases being added every year.

Management includes regular 3 weekly filtered packed red cell transfusions, Chelation therapy for iron overload every day. Management of complications of iron overload and transfusions, including osteoporosis, cardiac dysfunction, endocrine problems, Hepatitis B & C, HIV infection, CMV etc.

However, this optimal treatment comes at a prohibitive cost. The cost of treatment of an average weight 4-year-old thalassemic child is around Rs.90,000-100,000 annually till the patient lives. Therefore, not more than 5-10 per cent of thalassemic children born in India receive optimal treatment.

Dr. Lalit Katkar, project Chairman explains, “Therefore there is emphasis for shift from treatment to prevention of birth of such children in future. This can be achieved by implementing measures like Population education & Awareness, Screening of marriageable age youngsters in the community, Screening & counseling in Antinatal period of pregnant women, Mass screening of high risk communities for thalassemia minor, Screening of 7000 + Rotarians ,their families friends in Mumbai, Navimumbai & Thane. A pilot project was conducted in various colleges in Mumbai from Sept 2014 towards the cause”.

The second half of the day witnessed an important seminar on current issue of ‘Integrative medical approach for human health’ by Rtn Dr HS Palep , eminent veteran gynaecologist who was the convener for this seminar. Integrative medicine means using basic information, diagnostic and therapeutic tools of conventional medicine and supplementing with Ayurveda, yoga and any other alternative healing systems.

Many faculty speakers of national & international reputations presented their thoughts. Pro vice chancellor, Mumbai University Dr. Nareshchandra & director, Haffkin Institute, Dr. Abhay Chaudhary graced the occasion.