How thalassaemia could be controlled: The experience of Gaza Strip

Abstract

Gaza Strip is a poor and densely populated area by the Mediterranean Sea; β-thalassaemia is a socioeconomic problem in Gaza Strip. The number of thalassaemia patients in Gaza is 321, with an annual increase of about 5%. Patients receive free treatment. The cost of treatment of these patients is considered a burden on the budget of the Ministry of Health, not to mention the emotional suffering of the patients and families. The classical methods of thalassaemia control (public education, population screening, gene counseling, prenatal diagnosis) are costly. Gaza adopted the obligatory premarital tests in 2000, with the number of premarital tests made per year reaching about 10,000. Out of 100,000 marriages in 10 years, the number of couples where both are carriers is 223 and of those, the number who refused to separate was 71 couples. Ten years after the adoption of the obligatory premarital tests the evaluation of the program showed excellent results, and the number of new β-thalassaemia cases has dropped to zero.

Keywords

Thalassemia - population screening - Gaza - premarital test