Narayana Health recently organised one of Eastern India’s largest HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) testing camps specifically for children living with thalassemia. This large-scale camp took place at Narayana RN Tagore Hospital in Mukundapur, Kolkata, and screened more than 300 children and their family members for potential bone marrow transplant matches.
Collaborative Effort to Identify Donor Matches
To ensure broad community participation, Narayana Health partnered with several organisations, including DKMS, Thalassemics India, Coal India, the Federation of Blood Donor Organisations of India, and Paschim Bangal Sikkim Prantiya Marwari Yuva Manch. Together, they helped screen children afflicted by thalassemia and identify compatible donors, a crucial step toward curative treatment.
Leadership and Vision Behind the Initiative
Dr. Sunil Bhat, Vice-Chairman of the Oncology Collegium at the Narayana Health Group and Head of Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation, led the camp. Under his direction, the team worked tirelessly throughout the event to ensure families understood the importance of early HLA testing and the potential life-changing benefits it offers.
Significance of the Camp for Thalassemia Patients
Thalassemia continues to place a heavy burden on families in Eastern India, where many affected children rely on regular blood transfusions throughout their lives. Early HLA testing significantly increases the chance of finding a matched donor for bone marrow transplant, which remains the only curative treatment for this genetic blood disorder.
Commitment to Care and Support
As per The Tribune, Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, Founder and Chairman of Narayana Health, emphasised the organisation’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that every child has access to effective care and a realistic chance at cure. Furthermore, Narayana Health—well known for its extensive healthcare services across India—is offering financial support to eligible families whose children are identified with suitable donor matches through this initiative.
Conclusion: Advancing HLA Testing Access
Overall, this testing camp not only provided critical screenings but also increased awareness, counselling, and coordination with referring medical centres. As a result, families received support at every step during the camp, making this event a major milestone in advancing access to thalassemia care in Eastern India.