Free Bone Marrow Tests for Thalassemia Kids

A free bone marrow cross-matching camp for children suffering from Thalassemia will be organized at Aundh District Hospital on Friday. This event is part of the 'Ek Paul Thalassemia Muktikade' program, launched on May 8, 2025, which aims to prevent Thalassemia births and improve treatment for affected children. Specialists from Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital will provide guidance to registered children from Pune and surrounding areas.

Organizers encourage unregistered families with Thalassemia-affected children to attend the camp for free testing and counseling. This initiative builds on the success of 12 previous camps, which provided free bone marrow cross-matching tests to approximately 1,500 families. Thalassemia is a hereditary blood disorder requiring lifelong blood transfusions, with bone marrow transplantation being the only permanent cure, though costly.

Bone marrow cross-matching tests are crucial before transplantation, costing up to ₹80,000 per family and often requiring samples to be sent abroad. Laxmikant Pimpalgaonkar, the program's state coordinator, explained that after test results, parents receive counseling, and funds for surgery are secured through government and CSR initiatives. More than 90 children from Maharashtra and other states have successfully undergone transplants with support from the Thalassemia Support Group.