Thalassemia patients to be treated with Goat Blood – soon starting in Ludhiana
Thalassemia patients to be treated with Goat Blood – soon starting in Ludhiana To cure the Thalassemia patients, the Punjab government would soon be starting a new project under Mission Tandrust Punjab. In this project, goat blood would be injected into the patient’s body through the rectum and it does not let the haemoglobin level in the patient drop. This project will first start at the Government Ayurvedic Hospital situated in Model Gram area of the city. Dr Hemant Kumar, Incharge, Government Ayurvedic Hospital, Ludhiana, said that the project is already in process and would be starting very soon. He said, “We have prepared a detailed project report and submitted with our directorate at Chandigarh. We expect that the project would start soon as it would prove very beneficial for the Thalassemia patients.” The project would be funded jointly by the Punjab government and the Union Government. The treatment is described as ‘raktabasti’ in Ayurveda. Dr. Hemant said that along with the goat blood, the patients are also given tablets to increase immunity with “Desi Ghee” made from goat bones. With the starting of this treatment, the number of times a patient needs blood transfusion will also decrease. The frequency of the blood transfusion will decrease to half or even less, until the patient is fully cured. This project is already successfully running at some hospitals in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan etc. and a hospital in Ahmedabad has been providing this treatment since 1984. A team of seven doctors from the Punjab government, including Dr Hemant Kumar, have already been trained in this programme at a hospital in Gujarat. Dr Hemant Kumar also informed that the goat blood which is to be used in the treatment would be procured from the Municipal Corporation Ludhiana slaughterhouse on Hambran Road and would be used after being testified for infection by the Veterinary Department. -PTC NEWS
