World Thalassemia Day is celebrated on May 8 every year to commemorate Thalassemia victims and to encourage those who struggle to live with the disease.

• The day has been celebrated since 1994, when the Thalassemia International Federation (TIF) declared 8 May as International Thalassemia Day
• The theme for this year is “Be Aware. Share. Care: Working with the global community as one to improve thalassemia knowledge.’’
• Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that is characterised by less haemoglobin and lesser than normal blood cells. A person suffering from thalassemia has at least one of the parents as a carrier of the disease.