Mehriban Aliyeva: Healthcare is among key priorities for Heydar Aliyev Foundation

First Vice-President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva and vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva have visited Thalassemia Center on March 9.

Mehriban Aliyeva was informed of the center, which was constructed under“For life without th alas semi a” program of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

Director of Thalassemia Center Valeh Huseynov said it plays a crucial role in treating people with this disease. He highlighted the center’s measures to improve services provided to those with thalassemia.

Mehriban Aliyeva and Leyla Aliyeva spoke with children being treated at the Center.

The First Vice-President said healthcare and social issues were among key priorities for Heydar Aliyev Foundation, adding that the foundation contributes to treatment of thalassemia and awareness raising conducted in this area at the state level.

There are more than one million carriers of thalassemia in Azerbaijan. The country carries out a number of measures to prevent further spread of decease.

A state program for the fight against thalassemia for 2015-2020 years in Azerbaijan aims to strengthen measures to prevent thalassemia, increase the awareness about it among the population and improve medical care to patients suffering from thalassemia.

Over the last 10 years significant reforms have been carried out in the country to combat such a widespread decease. A number of projects were sanctioned for the treatment and diagnosis of the disease and improvement of the health of future generations.

In this regard, citizens have to pass a medical examination before marriage. However, doctors say that the presence of thalassemia gene in those wishing to marry does not mean that they should abandon their decision and should avoid having children. New couples get expert advice and find out what additional tests they should pass to keep their children healthy.

Earlier, by the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers the Thalassemia Center received the status of a public legal entity. It was built upon the initiative of President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva, to provide children with a chance to get better treatment.

The Heydar Aliyev Foundation constructed Thalassemia Center in Baku to create a qualified center and blood bank in Azerbaijan, prepare high-qualified personnel in the country, develop a voluntary donor service to provide safe and high quality blood to thalassemia-affected children, promote awareness-raising to prevent the expansion of thalassemia and enhance cooperation with foreign countries in fighting this disease.

The center has the latest diagnostic, treatment, and support units, available space and qualified personnel for the treatment of patients.

Since its establishment, the Thalassemia Center in Baku has offered all conditions both scientific and practical for studying thalassemia.