Afghan Girl Treated for Thalassemia Major by Indian Doctors

A six-year-old girl Hasnat from Afghanistan was treated for thalassemia major through bone marrow transplant by doctors at Fortis Hospital. BMT was earlier popular to treat cancers but is now increasingly recognized as an effective treatment option to treat genetic blood diseases as well.

Hasnat was diagnosed with thalasemmia when she was just six-months-old. With inadequate knowledge about the disease, the parents were confused about what to be done. After five and a half years of monthly blood transfusions, they decided to get the advanced treatment from India.

Explaining the case, Dr. Rahul Bhargava, Hematologist, Fortis Hospital, said that the family had traveled from Afghanistan and was relying on us. It made it even more crucial for all of us to give them the best possible treatment. Fortunately, the girl’s younger sister Munawwara turned out to be the perfect match.

Dr. Vikas Dua, Pediatric Hemato-oncologist said, “Thalassemia major is a genetic disease wherein the patients have two damaged genes thus frequent blood transfusions is required to survive. People with this condition often do not have a normal lifespan. But, advanced treatment modalities, like BMT, have now opened the doors to more options for such patients.”

 “We cannot thank enough Dr. Dua, Dr. Bhargava and team for giving my little niece a chance to live a normal life. Hasnat is doing perfectly fine. What more a patient can ask for,” said Hasnat ’s uncle.