Thalassaemia's Grip on Turbat: A Silent Health Emergency
In the heart of Balochistan, the city of Turbat is battling a silent but devastating health crisis. The genetic blood disorder thalassaemia has taken a severe toll on the local population, pushing families to the brink due to a crippling lack of medical resources. A resident's firsthand account reveals the daily struggle against a disease that demands constant care in a region starved of basic healthcare infrastructure.
Alarming Statistics and a Dire Reality
The scale of the problem is staggering. A recent report indicates that approximately 13 per cent of Turbat's population is affected by thalassaemia. This is one of the highest prevalence rates observed anywhere in the region, painting a grim picture of a public health emergency. Thalassaemia is a dangerous condition where the body cannot produce enough healthy haemoglobin, leading to severe anaemia. Patients require regular blood transfusions to survive, a treatment that becomes a lifeline and a heavy burden.
Living in Turbat means witnessing how this disease relentlessly weakens patients over time. The constant need for transfusions is just the beginning of a long, arduous journey for affected families. The town's existing vulnerabilities magnify the crisis exponentially.
A Healthcare System on Its Knees
The fight against thalassaemia in Turbat is fought on profoundly uneven ground. The area suffers from a chronic and severe shortage of essential medical facilities. The list of deficiencies is long and critical:
- A dire shortage of functional hospitals and clinics.
- Lack of essential medicines and blood bank supplies.
- A scarcity of trained doctors and specialist healthcare workers.
- Absence of even the most basic medical facilities and equipment.
This systemic neglect in healthcare provision means that a treatable condition becomes a potential death sentence. Patients and their families are left with few options, often facing impossible choices just to access routine care.
A Plea for Action: Every Life is Valuable
Shahida Baloch, from the Journey of Peace Absor, has issued a powerful and urgent appeal to the authorities. She stresses that every life is valuable, whether poor or rich, and the current situation in Turbat is unacceptable. The government must take this issue seriously before more lives are lost to a manageable disease.
The call to action is clear. Authorities must immediately intervene to provide proper medical facilities within Turbat. No patient should die simply because they cannot afford or reach a major city like Karachi or Quetta for advanced treatment. Establishing a dedicated thalassaemia care centre with a robust blood bank, specialist doctors, and free medication is no longer a request but a necessity.
The high prevalence rate in Turbat is a symptom of long-term healthcare neglect in Balochistan. Addressing this crisis requires a committed, sustained effort to build healthcare capacity from the ground up. The people of Turbat deserve a fighting chance against thalassaemia, and that fight begins with accessible, quality care at their doorstep.
