One in every 14 people in the UK has South Asian heritage.
Thalassaemia disproportionately affects people of South Asian heritage, amongst people from
other backgrounds.
People with Thalassaemia, a group of rare, life-long inherited blood conditions, produce either no or too little haemoglobin, which is used by red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body. This can lead to severe anaemia. Without regular treatment and close monitoring, the most severe types of Thalassaemia can cause organ damage and be life-threatening.
Most people with Thalassaemia are of South Asian, Southeast Asian, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern background but anyone can carry the ‘trait’ without knowing.
Free NHS testing for the trait is available through GP practices.
Read more about Thalassaemia here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/thalassaemia/