In a festive hall, amidst happily blaring music, the children laughed at puppet shows and took part in a dance event. In fact, the dance programme not only got the children all keyed-up, it even prompted their parents and doctors to do a jig to Indian and Western numbers. The children were presented gifts at the end of the show.

According to Dr Mamta Manglani, professor of paedriatics, Sion Hospital, the children tire of the regular rounds they have to make to the hospital for treatment. Such programmes offer them a break and give them a welcome dose of entertainment, she added. The programme was held in association with the Make a Wish Foundation.

The doctor explained that children suffering from thalassemia need blood transfusion every three to four weeks, while those having blood cancer have toundergo radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Many of the children who suffer from blood-related disorders come from families which can barely afford the prohibitivley priced treatment drugs needed to live a normal lIfe, she added. Thallassemic patients need to take iron chelator drugs to reduce the iron overload in their bodies, which costs Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 a month. The government should set up a separate fund so that these drugs are made accessible to patients, she suggested.

The children's will in facing up to their disease is remarkable, she added. With proper care and attention, they can have a normal life span and even get married and have children, she said.