Most people think Thalassaemia is about a child who needs lifelong blood transfusions. While this is true, Thalassaemia more importantly is about two healthy youngsters who did not know that they were Thalassaemia Minor.

A Thalassaemia Major child is born only if both parents are Thalassaemia Minor. The parents do not know that they are Thalassaemia Minor because most Thalassaemia Minors are normal, healthy people. They will continue to be healthy.

There are an estimated 40 million Indians who are Thalassaemia Minor. Almost all of them are completely unawares of this. There are only two ways of finding out if you are a Thalassaemia Minor :

1. by doing a blood test for Thalassaemia Minor
2. after giving birth to a Thalassaemia Major child

Unfortunately most people come to know that they are Thalassaemia Minor only after the birth of their Thalassaemia Major child. By then the harm is done and they can only repent. Had they known that they were both Thalassaemia Minor, they could have prevented this birth.

It is important for every youngster to do a test for Thalassaemia Minor.