Bollywood actors cheer up children with blood disorder

Ahead of World Thalassemia Day, Bollywood actors Irrfan Khan, Sonali Kulkarni and Sonu Sood, joined underprivileged children affected with the blood disorder, in Mumbai.

The actors shared some time with the kids and also distributed gifts and watched a film along with them.

The function was organised by a voluntary group, We Care Trust, that works for the prevention of Thalassemia.

Khan urged people to undergo a test for Thalassemia.

"Everyone, before marriage and during pregnancy, should undergo a test for Thalassemia because if you are infected with this disease then your kids would suffer more than you. Kids usually have a shorter life span and they usually died before the age of 14 or 15. Therefore, it is imperative to undergo a test for Thalassemia," he said on the sidelines of the function.

Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder, which affects a person''s hemoglobin and cause anemia-low levels of red blood cells.

Besides being a psychological and emotional trauma, the Thalassemia also poses a huge financial burden for the family. The process of removing excessive iron costs dearly to families with limited financial resources.

Sonali Kulkarni hailed the efforts of family members in bringing up children suffering from Thalassemia.

"To bring up such child without making him or her feel that they are a burden on family is very difficult. To look after such kids and to be happy with them is extremely difficult for parents. I feel that parents of these kids deserve a loud clap," Kulkarni said.

An estimated 40 million Indians suffer from this blood disease with more than 8,000 Thalassemia-affected births recorded every year in India.

India also has the highest number, more than 20 million, Thalassemia carriers

First Published: May 04, 2009 20:59 IST