Safe Marriage for Thalassaemia Prevention; the Need for Public Health Education

Abstract

Thalassaemia instigates an enormous health problem all over the world, due to the palliative nature of life long treatment and the cost involved. The available preventive strategies are not simple and not universally acceptable. The concept of "safe marriage" proposed for thalassaemia prevention in Sri Lanka recommends to ensure that one partner in a couple be a non-carrier. Thereby the option of screening at least one of the partners becomes the minimal essential requirement for a safe marriage. The process of screening, counselling and decision on selecting partners is voluntary and health education programmes only promote this. However to establish such a practice in society, the wide spread practice of screening and counselling should be established. Stringent monitoring to evaluate and take remedial action in the programme would also be essential.