South Asia is the hotspot of beta-thalassemia, with an estimated 200,000 patients whose lives depend on regular blood transfusion. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, many countries have adopted unprecedented lockdown to minimize the spread of transmission. Restriction of nationwide human mobility and fear of COVID-19 infection has put thalassemia patients in a life-threatening situation because of an acute shortage of blood supply. As a public health preparedness strategy during a crisis like COVID-19 pandemic, the plights of thalassemia patients should be considered. Government-sponsored community blood-banks needs to be established or coverage expanded as a safety net for the thalassemia patients in lower- and middle-income countries.
【저자키워드】 Bangladesh, blood donation, thalassaemia, Blood Transfusion, 【초록키워드】 public health, lockdown, COVID-19 pandemic, Transmission, Asia, Spread, Coverage, COVID-19 infection, Patient, Community, Blood, restriction, life-threatening, South, beta-thalassemia, thalassemia, hotspot, country, adopted, 【제목키워드】 Perspective, thalassemia, South Asian,