title: Keynote address: The challenge of thalassemia for the developing countries.
abstract: The thalassemias occur at some of their highest frequencies in the developing countries, particularly those of Asia. In many countries, facilities for the control of these conditions are extremely limited. Although a great deal can be done to help the situation by developing further North-South and South-South partnerships for disseminating better practice, the major problem for the future lies in the unwillingness of governments and international health agencies to accept that the thalassemias present a health burden comparable to that of other major diseases in the developing countries. However, preliminary analyses suggest that, at least in the case of Asia, this is not true. Further work of this nature, together with more detailed frequency and economic data, are required to provide solid evidence for the health burden posed by thalassemia in the developing world. Unless this is done, the large populations of patients with thalassemia in these countries will continue to be neglected.
authors.affiliation: Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Weatherall
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015913:Chelation Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006446:Hemoglobin E / Q000235:genetics; D006453:Hemoglobinopathies / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019083:Mediterranean Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D008877:Middle East / Q000453:epidemiology; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000453:epidemiology; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D006446:Hemoglobin E