Jingyan Partners with Xishuangbanna to Enhance Thalassemia Prevention and Treatment

Jingyan Partners with Xishuangbanna to Enhance Thalassemia Prevention and Treatment

On November 7, a symposium and signing ceremony for congenital heart disease and thalassemia free screening activities were held in Xishuangbanna. The Beijing Jingyan Foundation, in collaboration with the Xishuangbanna Health Commission, BGI Genomics, and Shenzhen Children's Hospital, signed a partnership agreement to advance the comprehensive prevention and treatment of thalassemia in Xishuangbanna.

Thalassemia is a common inherited disease in southern China, characterized by being "difficult to treat, but preventable." Thalassemia patients require lifelong, regular, and timely treatment. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is currently the most effective cure for severe thalassemia, though it comes with high requirements and substantial costs. However, thalassemia is preventable, and the implementation of a three-tier prevention strategy, including pre-marital, pre-pregnancy, and prenatal screening, diagnosis, and intervention, can effectively reduce the number of children born with severe thalassemia.

In 2018, the Beijing Jingyan Foundation launched the Building Love for Thalassemia Action project, dedicated to supporting impoverished children with severe illnesses, with a particular focus on tackling thalassemia as a critical health challenge. The project aims to achieve a "Zero Thalassemia" goal in China through a combination of medical assistance and prevention.

Yunnan Province, one of the regions in China with a high incidence of thalassemia, has a particularly high gene carrier rate in Xishuangbanna Prefecture. With active promotion from the Beijing Jingyan Foundation and the Xishuangbanna government, the Beijing Jingyan Foundation, Xishuangbanna Health Commission, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, and BGI Genomics have officially signed a cooperation agreement. These stakeholders will leverage their respective strengths, coordinate resources, and work together to advance thalassemia prevention and treatment, while also providing support to children with severe cases in Xishuangbanna.

Under the agreement, the Beijing Jingyan Foundation will coordinate with renowned hospitals and expert teams specializing in thalassemia from across the country to conduct free medical consultations in Xishuangbanna. These teams will develop standardized treatment plans for children with severe thalassemia. Patients who meet the criteria for the Building Love for Thalassemia Action project will also receive financial assistance.

The Beijing Jingyan Foundation will also work alongside its partners to organize targeted thalassemia awareness campaigns in the region. These initiatives will include a range of activities designed to educate young men and women of marriageable and childbearing age about the disease's causes and preventive measures, with the goal of increasing public awareness of thalassemia's risks.

With years of experience in pediatric healthcare, the Beijing Jingyan Foundation has built strong partnerships with several renowned hospitals. Under this agreement, the Foundation will coordinate a team of domestic thalassemia experts to conduct training sessions in Xishuangbanna, offering free educational opportunities for local healthcare professionals. Additionally, the Foundation will help establish a remote consultation system between leading hospitals and the Xishuangbanna People's Hospital, providing diagnostic and treatment guidance to enhance thalassemia prevention and treatment capabilities in the region.

During the signing ceremony, the Beijing Jingyan Foundation also signed a framework agreement with BGI Genomics for the Severe Thalassemia Patient Zero Program. The two parties will strengthen free matching services for thalassemia patients and collaborate to create a joint assistance mechanism to support patients with severe thalassemia in overcoming financial difficulties. Additionally, they will actively promote awareness campaigns and work together to advance thalassemia prevention and control in high-incidence areas.

DAO Wensheng, Director of the Xishuangbanna Health Commission

YE Zi, Secretary-General of the Beijing Jingyan Foundation

YE Weihua, Director of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Department of the Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital 

MA Jun, Professor at the Institute of Child and Adolescent Health of Peking University, Director of the National Health Education Teaching Advisory Committee for Primary and Secondary Schools under the Ministry of Education

YIN Ye, Chief Executive Officer of BGI Genomics Co., Ltd

Additionally, at the signing ceremony, the Beijing Jingyan Foundation hosted a symposium with various entities and organizations, including the Xishuangbanna Government Office, Xishuangbanna Health Commission, Xishuangbanna Healthcare Security Administration, Xishuangbanna Red Cross Society, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, the Sixth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital, Xishuangbanna People's Hospital, the Institute of Child and Adolescent Health at Peking University, and BGI Genomics. The meeting centered on discussions and collaborative research regarding the prevention and control of thalassemia and congenital heart disease.