Sunday Times 2
‘HELP’: Musical show in aid of Thalassaemia Centre
View(s):Dr. Zee from the US, the popular band Flame and Little Sopranos will all be performing at ‘HELP’ – a musical show organised by the Inner Wheel Club of Colombo Mid-Town on Sunday, November 13 at the British School at 7 p.m.
The show is being held to raise funds for the Thalassaemia Centre, Mahara and for the Inner Wheel Club’s charity project.
Thalassaemai is the most common genetic disease in Sri Lanka. If not treated, Thalassaemia results in early childhood death. On average in Sri Lanka 80 children are born with Thalassaemia every year –children with Thalassaemia are subjected to 200 hours of needle pain and 54 pints of blood transfusion every year.
The Thalassaemia Centre in Mahara treats hundreds of patients fulfilling the need for a dedicated centre for Thalassaemia patients in the Western province. Patients have to stay at the centre for more than ten hours or more depending on the avaialablility of transfusion units and requirements for iron- chelation. Currently more than 200 patients visit the centre with their families for their monthly transfusion. As the visit is mandatory, head of the Thalassaemia Unit Prof. Anuja Premawardhana has proposed that a productivity centre be set up so that patients can make good use of their time there. As most of the patients are children, it is hoped to couple it with recreation for the young patients.