Our Motto
We have always been committed to working for eradication of Thalassaemia in our society
WHO WE ARE
We are happy that common people responded magnificently and are supporting our relief work by organizing voluntary blood donation camps regularly.
It was not literally an Inspiration to achieve success but the plight of the children and their parents to procure blood and arrange for transfusion really moved some of our people to do something about it to help those families.
Dr. Prosanto Chowdhury is deeply associated with the workings of this Centre. He is a renowned Child specialist as well as an expert on Thalassaemia and Haemoglobinopathy, an activist connected with Thalassaemia International Federation, Nicosia, Cyprus.
For the parents it was frustrating to knock every known donor for blood and return empty handed. Cost of blood from private blood banks was prohibitive; taking the child to Kolkata from far off places took both time and money. Staying there overnight only added to their sufferings. Some of the parents became bankrupt and helplessly watched their child to die.
A group of social activists, most of them were engaged in trade union activities were Stirred to make a move and this Society came into existence, may be after a couple of failed attempts. In this matter Sri Ardhendu Dakshi, a renowned social activist took a leading role in founding this organization. He was also involved in HIV/AIDS programme in collaboration with ILO, India Office and also other government organizations.
When the Mission was properly explained to the management of big and small enterprises, particularly the public sector managements responded favorably. Big private sector industries however, were not so keen with with the idea. Durgapur Steel Plant and Durgapur Projects Limited are primarily responsible for the birth of this Society.
OUR APPROACH
01.
— Our Mission
It has a modest beginning but by virtue of dedicated service and sincere efforts, we are confident that Durgapur Society for Prevention of Thalassaemia and AIDS will become a Centre of importance in near future.
Prof. (Dr.) Anupam Basu, Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, The University of Burdwan, is deeply attached with our Society and we get valuable advice from him in the field of Genetic Mutation Study.
02.
— Our Vision
This Centre has plans to publish quality papers on Thalassaemia for the purpose of awareness campaign among the uninformed and reports on fundamental work by the expert.
03.
— Our Story
DSPT&A being a voluntary non-funded organization not running on a commercial basis has severe financial constraints but this organization has earned and enviable reputation for our sincere and honest services provided by us to the needy. Because of high level of credibility, help from individuals, organizations, industries have come to us, both financial and in other forms like personal services etc.
Sri Ardhendu Dakshi, President
AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
Our Society has organized campaigns against Thalassaemia and trained a big number of peer-educators in collaboration with local trade union. Worker leaders from Steel, Coal and unorganized informal sector industries have been trained to carry on awareness campaign in their respective areas of work. This is an ongoing process.
DSPT&A plans to develop this Centre popularly called as Durgapur Thalassaemia Centre, into a centre of excellence with all the testing, analysis and research facilities.
The Society will strive to provide blood to patients of Thalassaemia and also to provide clinical management to take care of negative after-effects.
Our Society as so far tested about 1000 students and to our surprise about 130 young people have been detected to be Carriers of Thalassaemia gene. This make around 10% of the population which proves that West Bengal is a high-risk society and pre-marriage blood screening should be made mandatory by law like that of Cyprus, Greece and other countries where high incidence of Thalassaemia is already under control, almost on the way of elimination.