RIYADH, 2 July — Saudi Arabia has the world’s highest rate of hereditary blood diseases, in particular sickle-cell anemia and thalassemia.
Around 1.5 million people are already suffering from the two hereditary blood diseases. According to official statistics, these diseases could affect up to five million people whose medical expenses would cost the country about SR1.3 billion.
Sickle cell anemia, which is spreading in the Kingdom at a rate of 20-30 percent, is caused by a genetic mutation that changes red blood cells into sickle-shape when deprived of oxygen. This leads to severe pains in most body parts, especially joints, the belly and the back.
Thalassemia, which is spreading at a rate of 20 percent, is a lot more dangerous than sickle cell anemia as the disease results in faulty hemoglobin production in those affected by the disease. This leads to the patients’ complete dependence on blood transfusion for the rest of their lives.
Dr. Huda Al-Mansour, director of the anti-hereditary blood diseases project, said hereditary blood diseases, especially sickle-cell anemia and thalassemia, were causing an economic and social disaster in the Kingdom.
The solution lies in a government decision making it binding on those who are planning to get married to take a medical test before marriage to make sure that they do not carry these two dangerous diseases, the Kuwaiti news agency KUNA quoted Dr. Al-Mansour as saying.
The Cabinet recently approved the formation of an agency for pre-marital medical tests in a bid contain contagious and hereditary diseases.
It approved an allocation of SR5 million annually to facilitate laboratory tests for those who are planning to get married. Those tests are to be accompanied by a health education campaign. The government will evaluate the program after three years before making pre-marital medical tests mandatory.
But Dr. Al-Mansour warned that the three-year delay could result in adding 12,733 new patients.
Dr. Al-Mansour referred to the expected pressure on health centers and blood banks due to an increase in demand for blood transfusions.
Additionally, there is also the danger of transmitting contagious diseases. There are more than 10 centers of hereditary blood diseases in the Kingdom. The per capita cost incurred by each center is around SR70,000 which includes preparation of blood and cost of medicines as well as an SR5,000 financial aid for the patient.
The Saudi government extends SR350 million in annual aid to sickle cell anemia patients.
