In commemoration of World Thalassemia Day 2025 on May 8th, the Department of Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment held awareness programs in various locations across the country. The overarching theme of these efforts was "Together for Thalassemia: Uniting Communities, Prioritizing Patients," aimed at increasing public awareness about genetic blood disorders like thalassemia. These initiatives were managed through national institutions such as the National Institute for Locomotor Disabilities Divyangjan, Swami Vivekananda's Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation PMR, SVNIRTAR Cuttack, Composite Regional Centre (CRC) Jaipur and Davanagere, with participation from experts across specialties.
During these sessions, diverse themes focusing on causes, symptoms, diagnosis, management strategies, and prevention measures for thalassemia were highlighted. Educational lectures about the severity of the disorder, timely detection through proper diagnosis, prevention techniques, and therapeutic approaches provided comprehensive insights. In addition to theoretical explanations, practical demonstrations such as medical checkups, blood donation activities, and health camps were also conducted at select centers.
The primary objective was dual-fold: to broaden societal awareness on thalassemia, encourage early identification to mitigate its impact, and offer support, including information about the Central Government's initiatives aimed at Divyangjan. This widespread effort underscored the DEPwD’s commitment towards enhancing inclusivity, healthcare, and empowerment in communities affected by this genetic disorder.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Social Justice Empowerment: Union Ministry of the Government of India.
DEPwD: Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, under the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
World Thalassemia Day 2025: An annual event dedicated to spreading awareness about thalassemia; this event occurred on May 8, 2025.
PIB Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Delhi.
Comprehensive Regional Centres: Subordinate national institutions (CRCs) that function under the DEPwD.
CRCs: Abbreviation for Comprehensive Regional Centres.
Together for Thalassemia: Uniting Communities, Prioritizing Patients: The theme for World Thalassemia Day 2025.
National Institute for Locomotor Disabilities Divyangjan, Kolkata: An institute under the DEPwD located in Kolkata that organized an awareness program and webinar.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: PMR, department within Swami Vivekanand National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research SVNIRTAR, Cuttack.
PMR: Abbreviation for the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Swami Vivekanand National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research: SVNIRTAR, located in Cuttack, organized a special awareness program.
SVNIRTAR: Abbreviation for Swami Vivekanand National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research.
Composite Regional Centre CRC Jaipur: A center that organized an awareness program in collaboration with Vivekanand Global University, Jaipur.
Vivekanand Global University, Jaipur: University that collaborated with CRC Jaipur to organize an awareness program.
Central Government: The government providing various schemes and facilities for Divyangjan (persons with disabilities).
Divyangjan: People with disabilities.
CRC Davanagere: A center that organized a special scientific awareness program.
CRC Nagpur: A center that organized a webinar.
Red Cross Society: Organization that collaborated with CRC Rajnandgaon for a health checkup and blood donation camp.
CRC Rajnandgaon: A center that organized a health checkup and blood donation camp in collaboration with the Red Cross Society.
National Institutions: Institutions of the Department (DEPwD).
Composite Regional Centres: Centres of the Department (DEPwD).
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
DEPwD organized Awareness Programmes across
the country on World Thalassemia Day 2025
Posted On: 09 MAY 2025 3:33PM by PIB Delhi
The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Union Ministry of Social Justice
th
and Empowerment, organized various awareness programmes on World Thalassemia Day on 8 May 2025,
through its subordinate national institutions and Comprehensive Regional Centres (CRCs) across the country.
This year's theme was ‘Together for Thalassemia: Uniting Communities, Prioritizing Patients’. The day is
dedicated to spreading awareness about serious genetic blood disorders like thalassemia and supporting
people affected by it.
Thalassemia is a genetic autosomal recessive disorder, which is inherited from one or both parents. It affects
red blood cells due to a genetic mutation, which leads to a reduction in the alpha or beta globin chains of
haemoglobin. This results in reduced production of red blood cells and reduced supply of oxygenated blood to
the body parts (anaemia).
On the occasion of World Thalassemia Day 2025, various institutes under the DEPwD located across the
country organized various awareness programmes, lectures and webinars. These are as follows:
National Institute for Locomotor Disabilities (Divyangjan), Kolkata organized a public awareness
programme and webinar on the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, management and prevention of Thalassemia for
patients and caregivers. The objective of the programme was to educate Divyaangjan/patients and their
caregivers about Thalassemia, its causes, symptoms, management and prevention.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR), Swami Vivekanand National Institute
of Rehabilitation Training and Research (SVNIRTAR), Cuttack also organized a special
awareness programme on the same day in which educational lectures were given by experts
emphasizing on the severity, timely diagnosis, prevention and management of the disorder.
Composite Regional Centre (CRC) Jaipur organized an awareness programme in collaboration
with Vivekanand Global University, Jaipur. On this occasion, experts provided information related to
thalassemia and various schemes and facilities being provided by the Central Government for
Divyangjan.
CRC Davanagere also organized a special scientific awareness programme where specialist doctors
highlighted the clinical aspects of thalassemia, the role of genetic counseling and multidisciplinary care. 73
participants, including Divyangjan, caregivers and students, attended the programme. CRC Nagpur
organized a webinar on the occasion in which various experts participated. In addition, a health check-up and
blood donation camp was organized in collaboration with the Red Cross Society at CRC Rajnandgaon.
Awareness programmes were also organized by other National Institutions of the department and Composite
Regional Centres (CRC). The aim of these awareness programmes held across the country was to spread
awareness about Thalassemia in the society, promote early diagnosis, and provide support to affected
individuals and their families.*****
VM
(Release ID: 2127897)