International Thalassemia Day丨Preventing and Managing Thalassemia Together: Jingyan in Action

International Thalassemia Day丨Preventing and Managing Thalassemia Together: Jingyan in Action

May 8, 2025, marks International Thalassemia Day. This year’s theme, Together for Thalassaemia: Uniting Communities, Prioritizing Patients, aims to raise public awareness of thalassemia, especially among residents in high-prevalence provinces, and to encourage collective action across society to strengthen thalassemia screening, early diagnosis and treatment, and health management.

Recently, Beijing Jingyan Foundation, in collaboration with multiple hospitals and charitable organizations, held a series of activities themed for International Thalassemia Day across Guangdong, Guizhou, Yunnan, and Hainan. The events provided thalassemia children with free medical consultations and screenings, health education, and engaging interactive programs, aiming to raise public awareness of thalassemia and promote the healthy growth of children.

Kuming, Yunnan

Date: Morning of 6 May

Location: The First People Hospital of Yunnan Province

On May 6, Beijing Jingyan Foundation, together with the expert team from the First People Hospital of Yunnan Province, held a themed free clinic titled “Thalassemia Prevention and Control, Walking Hand in Hand” at the entrance of Outpatient Building No. 2 of the Hospital. Experts from the Departments of Hematology, Integrative Medicine, Pediatrics, Medical Genetics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Reproductive Medicine all participated in the event. 

The event offered six major public welfare services for thalassemia patients and families with suspected cases, including disease consultation and diagnosis, personalized treatment recommendations, prevention and control education, reproductive guidance, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation consultation, and fertility preservation advice. Free HLA typing was also provided specifically for patients’ families. The on-site expert team provided one-on-one consultation and services for all children attending the clinic, helping families respond to thalassemia in a scientific and informed manner.

According to preliminary statistics, around 30 families participated in the event, with doctors providing free HLA typing for six children and reproductive guidance for three families.

Shenzhen, Guangdong

Date: 8 May

Location: Shenzhen Children’s Hospital

On the morning of May 8, Beijing Jingyan Foundation, together with Shenzhen Children’s Hospital and several partner organizations, launched the “Coloring Life, Building a Healthy Future” campaign — a month-long initiative in honor of International Thalassemia Day focused on child care and awareness.

The event featured a rich lineup of activities, including health education sessions, patient-family exchanges, an award ceremony for the thalassemia children’s art contest, talent performances by young patients, free medical consultations and screenings, and a charity bazaar. Combining education, diagnosis, and assistance into a one-stop public service, the program directly addressed the practical needs of thalassemia families.

At the event, Professor LIU Sixi from the Department of Hematology and Oncology at Shenzhen Children’s Hospital shared insights on the current landscape of thalassemia transplantation, while Director WU Wenmei from the Social Work Department introduced the Building Love for Thalassemia Action project. Parents of thalassemia children also took the stage to share moving recovery stories, encouraging others to pursue scientific treatment and maintain hope.

The organizers presented awards to the winners of the children’s art contest, and thalassemia children performed music, dance, and poetry, breaking through the stigma of illness and expressing their optimism and vitality. The hospital’s hematology and oncology doctors later provided free on-site medical consultations for the participating families.

It is reported that from May 8 to May 31, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital will host a special exhibition of artworks created by children with thalassemia, showcasing more than 40 paintings that reflect the children’s imagination, resilience, and hope for a healthy future.

Dongguan, Guangdong

Date: 8 May

Location: Dongguan Taixin Hospital

On the morning of May 8, the Beijing Jingyan Foundation joined hands with Dongguan Taixin Hospital to host a parent-child event under the theme “Together Against Thalassemia, Lighting Up the Light of Life.”

Dr. BU Chaoke, Director of the Nanfang-Chunfu Children's Institute of Hematology & Oncology, attended the event to share essential health knowledge about thalassemia, raise public awareness of disease prevention, and guide patients toward standardized and scientific treatment.

During the event, three children living with thalassemia took the stage to share their treatment experiences and stories from daily life, encouraging their peers to stay positive, keep up their treatments, and face challenges with courage.

Parents attending the event also joined their children in creating “everlasting flower” crafts, symbolizing hope and resilience. They wrote down heartfelt messages of gratitude to the Beijing Jingyan Foundation and wishes for a brighter future, expressing their appreciation for the foundation’s continued care and support for children with thalassemia.

Fuzhou, Fujian 

Date: 8 May

Location: Tonghu Square and Fujian Preschool Education College, etc.

On May 8, the Beijing Jingyan Foundation, together with the Fujian Assistance for the Needy Charity Association and several other organizations, jointly launched a International Thalassemia Day campaign in multiple locations across Fuzhou. Under the theme Together for Thalassaemia: Uniting Communities, Prioritizing Patients, the event combined both online and offline formats to promote public awareness of thalassemia prevention and control, contributing to the reduction of birth defects.

To ensure the campaign’s effectiveness, the organizers produced canvas bags, fans, and other materials printed with thalassemia-related knowledge and public welfare slogans. They also recruited and trained volunteers from universities in Fuzhou, who helped facilitate interactive quizzes, educational displays, and science popularization sessions at the event sites.

At the event site in Tonghu Square, volunteers actively introduced the importance of thalassemia screening to the public. Through distributing informational materials and offering on-site explanations, they helped raise citizens’ awareness and understanding of thalassemia prevention and control. 

At the event site of Fujian Preschool Education College, university student volunteers acted as “Thalassemia Awareness Ambassadors,” explaining the genetic patterns, importance of screening, and preventive measures of thalassemia to their peers. They also invited students to sign the “Youth Pledge for Thalassemia Prevention and Control” board, committing to spread awareness among more people. In addition, a “Thalassemia Knowledge Challenge” was held at the sub-venue, using interactive quizzes to inspire young students’ enthusiasm for participating in thalassemia prevention efforts.

Haikou, Hainan

Date: 8 May

Location: Haikou People’s Hospital

On May 8, Beijing Jingyan Foundation, in collaboration with Haikou People’s Hospital, held a public welfare event themed “Caring for Thalassemia, Walking Together.”

The event invited several thalassemia patients previously supported by Beijing Jingyan Foundation to attend, presenting them with playful awards such as the “Trust Award” and “Perseverance Award” to honor their commitment to treatment and encourage them to embrace a new life and pursue their dreams after regaining health. The awardees and their families also shared their treatment experiences with other attending families, motivating them to continue following scientific treatment.

At the event, doctors from the Hematology Department of Haikou People’s Hospital provided free medical consultations for the children in attendance and patiently answered their questions and concerns.

Luodian, Guizhou

Date: 8 May

Location: Luodian, Guizhou

On the morning of May 8, Beijing Jingyan Foundation, together with the Luodian County Civil Affairs Bureau, Luodian County Health Commission, and Luodian County Charity Federation, held a public awareness campaign at a busy farmers’ market under the theme “Joining Forces for the Zero Thalassemia Plan: Building a Strong Prevention Barrier and Creating a Thalassemia-Free New Homeland Together.” The event aimed to raise public awareness of thalassemia and call on society to pay attention to the needs of affected patients.

At the event, informational panels provided detailed explanations on thalassemia, including its causes, genetic patterns, clinical manifestations, and preventive measures. The panels also introduced government medical and temporary assistance policies, health department thalassemia screening, diagnosis, and treatment services, as well as the charity federation’s special relief fund for thalassemia patients, including application criteria and procedures. Event staff distributed brochures, leaflets, and other materials to ensure that passersby could access relevant information.

Medical personnel offered free consultations on thalassemia prevention and treatment, while civil affairs staff provided detailed explanations of thalassemia assistance policies and guided eligible families on-site to apply for support.

Preventing and Controlling Thalassemia: Jingyan in Action

 Since its establishment, Beijing Jingyan Foundation has been committed to addressing major diseases such as thalassemia. In 2018, the Foundation officially launched the Building Love for Thalassemia Action project to support children in need, providing continuous medical assistance to help them overcome financial constraints and limited access to healthcare resources. At the same time, the Foundation actively promotes thalassemia prevention awareness, empowers grassroots medical systems, and supports local governments in high-incidence regions to implement thalassemia prevention and control measures, striving to prevent and manage severe childhood illnesses from the source.

Having been deeply engaged in the field of thalassemia for many years, the Building Love for Thalassemia Action project reflects Beijing Jingyan Foundation’s low-profile and pragmatic approach. The program operates with a focus on scientific rigor, transparency, professionalism, and innovation, earning widespread recognition from families for its broad coverage, substantial aid amounts, fast and convenient application process, and high transparency. At the same time, the initiative integrates deeply with medical settings, actively coordinating hospital and social resources to provide support such as Jingyan Care Packages, scholarships, and surprise gifts during children’s treatment and recovery, helping patients and their families cope with the pain, trauma, and challenges brought by the disease.

At the same time, Beijing Jingyan Foundation has been actively advancing the pilot of the Zero Thalassemia Plan, collaborating with local government departments in Yunnan, Guizhou, and other regions. By implementing the dual-track strategy of “rescuing existing patients and eliminating new cases,” the Foundation provides financial, technical, and other resource support to help local governments carry out thalassemia prevention and control efforts, contributing to upstream disease management.

As of April 2025, the Building Love for Thalassemia Action project has supported nearly 1,500 disadvantaged thalassemia children in completing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation or intensive post-transplant anti-rejection treatment, with total aid exceeding RMB 56 million. The project thas also organized over 140 thalassemia awareness events and live broadcasts, training more than 1,300 grassroots doctors across provinces including Yunnan, Guizhou, and Hainan.