Press Release
Issued by the Yemeni Society for Thalassemia and Hereditary Blood Disorders
On the Occasion of World Thalassemia Day
On the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, the Yemeni Society for Thalassemia and Hereditary Blood Disorders extends its heartfelt congratulations to all its patients and their families, to every kind and generous hand that has embraced and supported this cause, to our partners in the fight against these chronic diseases, and to all our dedicated staff and volunteers.
This occasion coincides with the global observance of World Thalassemia Day on May 8, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the plight of patients with thalassemia and hereditary blood disorders, and to mobilize efforts for their well-being and that of society at large.
Sadly, this year’s commemoration comes at a time when Yemen continues to face a deepening humanitarian crisis. Over the past two years, dozens of our patients have lost their lives due to the unavailability of essential medications and the deterioration of healthcare services. Patients in Yemen endure immense suffering—not only from their chronic illnesses, but also from the broader crisis afflicting the country.
Recognizing the importance of awareness in preventing new cases of thalassemia and sickle cell anemia among children, the Society had planned to hold its annual celebration of World Thalassemia Day in 2019. However, due to the extremely difficult and exceptional circumstances our beloved country is facing, we were unable to organize the event and have instead launched an electronic media campaign. We hope that conditions will soon allow us to resume this and other patient-centered activities.
Accordingly,
We call upon all Yemeni television channels, websites, radio stations, and newspapers to mark World Thalassemia Day – May 8, 2019, by broadcasting this message in news segments, print publications, online platforms, and scrolling news tickers in an appropriate format.
We also encourage all media outlets to utilize the Society’s previously produced educational and awareness materials, available on our YouTube channel (YSTH Thalassemia), to help highlight the suffering of thalassemia and hereditary blood disorder patients and to contribute to the fight against this debilitating condition. We have always appreciated the media’s responsiveness to humanitarian issues, and we remain hopeful for their continued support.
Finally, we urge local and international organizations, global relief agencies, and the International Committee of the Red Cross to turn their attention to the needs of thalassemia patients in Yemen and to provide them with essential medications and the medical supplies they require.
We pray for the recovery of all our patients,
and extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to all.
The Yemeni Society for Thalassemia and Hereditary Blood Disorders
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
