Novartis Contributes 25 Infusion Pumps To RIPAS
By James Kon

Bandar Seri Begawan - As part of an ongoing initiative to raise awareness of thalassaemia while saving lives of patients affected by the condition in the country, world leading pharmaceutical company Novartis yesterday morning contributed 25 infusion pumps to the Paediatric Clinic, RIPAS Hospital.

Regional medical advisor of Novartis Singapore Dr Sanja K Anggarwal was on hand to present the infusion pumps to acting CEO of RIPAS Haji Ibrahim bin Haji Abdul Hamid.

Also in attendance during the presentation were product specialist of Novartis Corporation Malaysia Gariel Mueller, product manager of Novartis Singapore Shawn Chong, and doctors from the Paediatric Clinic of RIPAS.

The pumps, which cost $1,000 each, will be distributed to thalassaemia patients who are in dire need of desferal (desferrioxamine) to remove the excess iron they obtain during blood transfusions.

Thalassaemia, an inherited disease, is an abnormality in the synthesis of normal haemoglobin resulting in inadequate oxygen supply to the body.

Treatments include monthly blood transfusion and iron chelation therapy with desferrioxamine.

There are currently around 75 thalassaemia children receiving treatment at the RIPAS Hospital, and this year itself, three children below the age of one have been diagnosed with thalassaemia.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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