Progress Toward the Control and Management of the Thalassemias

Because of the particularly high frequency of different severe forms of both alpha and beta thalassemia in Asia, the development of approaches for their prevention and management is particularly challenging. However, because of earlier partnerships with richer countries, so-called North/South partnerships, and help from their governments, considerable progress toward the better control of the thalassemias has been achieved in some countries. It is vital that the global health importance of the thalassemias and related disorders, by far the commonest genetic diseases, is emphasized to the appropriate international health agencies.