主席的话

While being trained as a haematologist, I am fascinated by the study of haemoglobin and thalassaemia, the commonest genetic disease in human. Understandably, this field is at the frontier of human genetics and molecular biology. Hong Kong is in a position to contribute to knowledge advancement in the field due to high disease prevalence and unique features in Chinese patients that distinguishes us from other ethnicities.

Severe thalassaemia, also known as thalassaemia major, is a life long illness and depends on regular blood transfusion for survival. With this comes the complication of iron overload that affects the heart, liver and endocrine organs. Painstaking iron chelation therapy is required to remove the excessive iron and prevent complications. This disease not only exerts a heavy medical toll on patients but also psychosocial burden. Currently, the only chance of cure is through haemopoietic stem cell transplantation. Through effective thalassaemia screening and conscientious work of medical practitioners, severe thalassaemia is largely prevented in Hong Kong.

The achievement of the Children’s Thalassaemia Foundation in the past 30 years is truly remarkable given the lack of recurrent funding support, no large endowment and the small administrative team. Our success owes much to the selfless devotion of our directors, members, staff and volunteers. Much credit also goes to our partners in care namely the patients and their families, without whose support our effort will be futile.

I am humbled by the work of Professor C Y Yeung, Mr. Graham Cheng and other forbearers of the Foundation. At this jubilant moment of our 30th anniversary, I wish the Foundation to go from strength to strength and my heart will always be with you.