Muscat: Oman's Ministry of Health said that approximately 50 per cent of Omani citizens are carriers of either alpha or beta thalassemia, highlighting the importance of early detection through medical screening and genetic counselling.
In reference to these figures, the Ministry of Health continues to encourage citizens to undergo pre-marital medical check-ups, which are widely available across most healthcare institutions.
Officials stress that timely testing can help prevent the transmission of hereditary blood disorders and enable informed family planning.
The initiative reflects broader public health strategy aimed at reducing the prevalence of genetic diseases and improving overall community well-being.
Meanwhile, Thalassemia is a hereditary condition caused by an imbalance in the production of hemoglobin, the protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. Hemoglobin is made up of two alpha and two beta chains, and a deficiency in either leads to a type of thalassemia.
Beta-thalassemia, one of the more severe forms, occurs when the body fails to produce enough beta chains. Though not apparent at birth, symptoms usually emerge within the first year of life and include chronic anemia, fatigue, weakness, and delayed growth. Affected individuals often require regular blood transfusions, and in severe cases, a bone marrow transplant from a compatible donor is the only curative option.
The condition is especially prevalent in Al Batinah North Governorate, Muscat, and the Ad Dakhiliyah governorates.
Due to its high frequency in the Mediterranean, Middle East, and South Asia, it is often referred to as "Mediterranean anemia."
Alpha-thalassemia, another form of the disorder, involves a deficiency in the alpha chains of hemoglobin.
This condition is also inherited and varies in severity depending on the number of missing alpha genes. Individuals missing one gene (−α/αα) usually show no symptoms but can pass the gene to their children. Those missing two genes (−α/−α) may experience mild symptoms, while the loss of three genes results in more severe health issues. Complete absence of all four alpha genes is fatal before or shortly after birth.
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