Northern Cyprus
Thalassaemia Association

• The Association: The Northern Cyprus Thalassaemia Association was established in 1978 by a group of concerned citizen to help increase awareness; provide treatment and prevent birth of babies with Thalassaemia.
  
• The Legal Foundation: The Association is formed under the Rules and Regulations of The Association governed by the Act. 6/1961, the law of Societies and Associations.
  
• Empowerment of Thalassaemics: A new movement within the Thalassaemic Cummunity is growing by leaps and bounds, that is the movement towards empowerment of Thalassaemics. Nothing short of complete empowerment is acceptable. This empowerment is to cover all aspects of life including the administration of the Association.
  
• Organs of the Association: Organs of the Association are made up of voluntary, elected positions determined during the meeting of the General Council.
  
• The General Council: This is the constituent body of the Association and includes all members.
  
• The Executive Board: The members of the administrative body of the Association has progressed from that of concerned parents and finally to Thalasaemics themselves. With the movement towards empowerment, we are proud to announce that the majority of members of the current Executive Board are Thalassaemics.
                     

Chairman: Mr. Ahmet VAROĞLU
Vice Chairman: Mr. Mustafa TUNCEL

Geographic Divisions: The Rules and Regulations provide for the following geographic divisions.
Lefkoşa Branch - Gazimağusa Branch - Girne Branch - Güzelyurt Branch
The Goals and Objectives: The current Executive Board has determined the following goals and objectives to work on:

Improved Healt Care Services
Increased Puplication and Education
Improved Financial Resources
Expanded Social Activites
Improved Rekationships with Turkish, Third Country and International Organizations
New Association Building
Improved Legal Tights including Employment
Extended Organizational Structure
Increased Medical Research and Education

How to Contact Us
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 771 Nicosia Mersin 10 Turkey
Telephone: + (90 392) 22 37 689
Facsimile : + (90 392) 22 37 689
E-mail: thalader@kibris.net

Thalassaemia In Northern Cyprus

• Institutions: Various institutions are directly dealing with Thalassaemia in Northern Cyprus apart from the Northern Cyprus Thalassaemia Associarion.

• Ministry of Health and Environment: The Ministry is the major provider of health care services and control activities related to Thalassaemia.
  

• The Thalassaemia Center: The Center, inaugurated in 1988, was built with generous donations from the Republic of Turkey. Health care activities related to the management and control of Thalassaemia are carried out by and through the Center.
  

• The Laboratories: The Thalassaemia Center includes specialized laboratories where haematological and genetic tests are carried out.
  

• The Blood Bank: The central Blood Bank of Dr. Burhan Nalbantoğlu State Hospital supplies the blood necessary for transfusions to the Thalassaemics.
  

• Control of Thalassaemia: Control of Thalassaemia is taken very seriously in Northern Cyprus. For this reason, successful results are obtained in controlling the spread of Thalassaemia. Babies with Thalassaemia are no longer born in Northern Cyprus.
  

• Mandatory Pre-marital Screening: For this reason, The Amendment 8/1980 was made to the Law of Turkish Family requiring pre-marital screening fot the Thalassaemia gene.
  

• Pre-natal Diagnosis: Pre-natal diagnosis (CVS) is available to pregnant women who are likely to give birth to Thalassaemic offspring.
  

• Treatment: Treatment for Thalassaemia is provided to all, free of charge, at the Thalassaemia Centre.
  

• Transfusions: Transfusions are carried out on an availability basis with the aim of maintaining the highest possible Haemoglobin levels.
  

• Iron Chelation: Desferal is provided, free of charge, to all by the ministry of Health and Environment. Desferal pumps are provided mainly by the Association and are commonly used.
  

• Thalassaemics: There is a sizable group of Thalassaemics living in Northern Cyprus looking towards a bright future despite difficulties faced.
  

• Population: 163 Thalassaemics, 64 % of whom are over 18 years of age, live in Northern Cyprus.
  

• Social and Economic Status: Social and economic status of te Thalassaemics is improving with time.
  

• Act 64/1993, The Law for the Protection, Rehabilitation and Employment of the Disabled as Amended.

• Requirements of this law include provision of jobs and/or financial assistance to the disabled including the Thalassaemic.

Educational Status: We are proud to announce that among the Thalassaemics over 18 years of age, %18 are university students and %5 are degree holders.

Employment: Currently, %45 of Thalassaemics over 18 years of age employed; %55 in the puplic and %45 in the private secrtors.

Marriage and Children: We are also proud to announce that among the Thalassaemics over 18 years of age, %10 are married with non-Thalassaemic offspring in %80 of the marriages.