Karachi
On Saturday, as many as 100 children suffering from Thalassemia major observed youm-e-dua at Quaid-e-Azam’s mausoleum on the eve of New Year.
Accompanied by their parents and the office bearers and volunteers of the Omair Sana Foundation (OSF), the children lit oil lamps in front of the Quaid’s tomb and prayed for their improved their health, long life and the elimination of the dreaded disease of Thalassemia from the society.
The ceremony was arranged by the Omair Sana Foundation (OSF), a non-profit organization that strives for the eradication of Thalassemia from the country as well as providing blood to affected children. Thalassemia patients require a blood transfusion every 20 to 25 days.
Test cricketer Asad Shafiq also attended the ceremony in an effort to encourage children with disease to face their destiny with courage and urged the youth to come forward and donate blood regularly to ease the sufferings of Thalassemic children.
Secretary OSF Dr. Saqib Ansari, who is also one of Pakistan’s leading hematologists, told the media that the youm-e-dua had been arranged to seek mercy from Allah and to draw the attention of society towards the sufferings of these children.
“What these children require more than anything else is a regular supply of blood, something that can only be arranged through donations from people. These children here are begging the society to donate blood so that they may stay alive longer” he observed.
He reiterated his appeal to each and every Pakistani to donate blood at least once a year, as this would ease the sufferings of children who are completely dependent on donors’ blood to stay alive.
Asad Shafiq said he was invited by the OSF office-bearers to attend the ceremony where he pleased to find out that many legendary cricketers had also attended such ceremonies in the past.
“They (OSF) are doing a great job. Through them I learnt the importance of blood donations and I would urge Pakistani people, especially the youth, to regularly donate blood as it would cause no harm to their bodies” he added.
Dua, a 10-year old girl suffering from Thalassemia, said she had come to pray for her improved health and end of the sufferings of her parents, who always remain in search of donors to blood for her.
Hamza, another Thalassemia major patient said he had prayed to Allah to eliminate disease from bodies of all Thalassemia patients and provide ‘good rulers’ to the country.
Some parents, who attended the ceremony along with their two or more children suffering from the blood disease, urged for the media to disseminate more information about the disease and methods for its prevention, as increased awareness could decrease the number of children that get this incurable disease.
On Saturday, as many as 100 children suffering from Thalassemia major observed youm-e-dua at Quaid-e-Azam’s mausoleum on the eve of New Year.
Accompanied by their parents and the office bearers and volunteers of the Omair Sana Foundation (OSF), the children lit oil lamps in front of the Quaid’s tomb and prayed for their improved their health, long life and the elimination of the dreaded disease of Thalassemia from the society.
The ceremony was arranged by the Omair Sana Foundation (OSF), a non-profit organization that strives for the eradication of Thalassemia from the country as well as providing blood to affected children. Thalassemia patients require a blood transfusion every 20 to 25 days.
Test cricketer Asad Shafiq also attended the ceremony in an effort to encourage children with disease to face their destiny with courage and urged the youth to come forward and donate blood regularly to ease the sufferings of Thalassemic children.
Secretary OSF Dr. Saqib Ansari, who is also one of Pakistan’s leading hematologists, told the media that the youm-e-dua had been arranged to seek mercy from Allah and to draw the attention of society towards the sufferings of these children.
“What these children require more than anything else is a regular supply of blood, something that can only be arranged through donations from people. These children here are begging the society to donate blood so that they may stay alive longer” he observed.
He reiterated his appeal to each and every Pakistani to donate blood at least once a year, as this would ease the sufferings of children who are completely dependent on donors’ blood to stay alive.
Asad Shafiq said he was invited by the OSF office-bearers to attend the ceremony where he pleased to find out that many legendary cricketers had also attended such ceremonies in the past.
“They (OSF) are doing a great job. Through them I learnt the importance of blood donations and I would urge Pakistani people, especially the youth, to regularly donate blood as it would cause no harm to their bodies” he added.
Dua, a 10-year old girl suffering from Thalassemia, said she had come to pray for her improved health and end of the sufferings of her parents, who always remain in search of donors to blood for her.
Hamza, another Thalassemia major patient said he had prayed to Allah to eliminate disease from bodies of all Thalassemia patients and provide ‘good rulers’ to the country.
Some parents, who attended the ceremony along with their two or more children suffering from the blood disease, urged for the media to disseminate more information about the disease and methods for its prevention, as increased awareness could decrease the number of children that get this incurable disease.
