Awareness day tackles blood disorder understanding

ANYONE who worries having a genetic blood disorder can find out more during a special health event in Bradford city centre.

According to healthcare workers, many people do not know that they could be healthy carriers of sickle cell or thalassaemia trait.

A team from Bradford and Airedale Community Health Services is hosting a Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia awareness day to raise awareness of the genetic disorders. They will also be offering support to those who find out they are carriers about make informed choices about their futures.

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The event is being held by the Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia counselling service in Kirkgate Market Centre next Wednesday between 9.30am and 3.30pm.

Counselling service staff will be there to give free confidential advice and screening information.

The National Blood Service will also be on hand offering free support to those who want to donate blood.

Sickle cell and thalassaemia are genetic blood disorders that are mainly found in people of African, Mediterranean, Middle East and Asian origin.

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These blood disorders are severe forms of inherited anaemia. About 15,000 people have sickle cell in the UK.

In Bradford, there are about 45 people with major thalassaemia which is high compared to other areas. Such conditions are often detected during routine blood tests of babies and pregnant women.

The counselling service, based at Manningham Clinic on Bradford's Lumb Lane, is a walk-in centre that offers free confidential testing, advice and counselling to everyone in the Bradford district.

Anyone who cannot attend the event on Wednesday but would like a blood test to check if they are a carrier of sickle cell or thalassaemia, or wants more information about the conditions, can contact the service on 01274 730836 or call into the Clinic.

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