Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva and Director of the Moscow Scientific and Practical Center for Medical Aid to Children Andrey Pritiko have visited Thalassemia Center in Baku.

Pritiko, was on a visit to Azerbaijan to attend the fourth Baku International Humanitarian Forum on October 2-3.

Aliyeva and Pritiko were accompanied by Health Minister Ogtay Shiraliyev, who informed them on the activities of the center.

Shiraliyev said the construction of the center was initiated by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. Azerbaijan is carrying out a state program on thalassemia and hemophilia treatment. In 2005, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation launched "For Life without Thalassemia" program.

The first marrow transplant surgery was carried out on three patients at the center this May. There are plans to carry out four more programs in this field, the minister informed.

Aliyeva and Pritiko met patients being treated at the center. Pritiko praised the conditions created at the facility.

Some gifts were presented to children being treated at the center on behalf of the foundation.

Thalassemia is one of the most common diseases in Azerbaijan, and due to the spread of thalassemia Azerbaijan ranks fourth in the world.

The mortality rate among thalassemia patents has decreased in the past 10 years due to the increased quality of treatment in the country. Whereas earlier thalassemia patients lived for 10 to 12 years, now their life can be extended for up to 26 years.

The Heydar Aliyev Foundation has launched the program "For the life without thalassemia" in order to prevent the spread of this disease.

Thalassemia Center in Baku has turned into a glimmer of hope for the children with hemophilia disease.

For the first time in the region, an operating room has been created in the center for transplanting bone marrow. Complete treatment of the disease is planned in the near future at the Thalassemia Center, which is aimed at complete recovery of patients.