Iraqi children get a blood transfusion in a thalassemia ward at a children's hospital, in eastern Mosul, Iraq April 26, 2017. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Pakistani children suffering from Thalassemia light earthen lamps, before World Thalassemia Day in Karachi, Pakistan, May 7, 2016. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

A Pakistani girl suffering from Thalassemia poses while holding an earthen lamp before World Thalassemia Day in Karachi, Pakistan, May 7, 2016. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

Children suffering from Thalassemia undergo blood transfusion in Lahore, Pakistan May 8, 2015. World Thalassemia Day is being observed today. REUTERS/Mohsin Raza

A woman assists her son suffering from Thalassemia as he undergoes a blood transfusion process at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad December 5, 2014. Lax oversight of blood banks means about a fifth of patients in Pakistan who get regular transfusions have been infected with hepatitis, a top government health official said on Friday. Some also get HIV. Pakistan's dangerously unregulated blood banks are in the spotlight after a charitable federation said 10 children getting transfusions for a blood disease contracted HIV. About 22,000 children with thalassaemia, which causes low levels of protein in the blood, get regular transfusions, the Thalassaemia Federation of Pakistan said. Government officials are investigating and have not confirmed the cases it cited. REUTERS/Faisl Mahmood (PAKISTAN - Tags: HEALTH SOCIETY)

A boy suffering from Thalassemia looks on as he undergoes a blood transfusion process at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad December 5, 2014. Lax oversight of blood banks means about a fifth of patients in Pakistan who get regular transfusions have been infected with hepatitis, a top government health official said on Friday. Some also get HIV. Pakistan's dangerously unregulated blood banks are in the spotlight after a charitable federation said 10 children getting transfusions for a blood disease contracted HIV. About 22,000 children with thalassaemia, which causes low levels of protein in the blood, get regular transfusions, the Thalassaemia Federation of Pakistan said. Government officials are investigating and have not confirmed the cases it cited. REUTERS/Faisl Mahmood (PAKISTAN - Tags: HEALTH SOCIETY)

A child suffering from Thalassemia undergoes a blood transfusion process in Karachi May 7, 2009. World Thalassemia Day will be observed on Friday. REUTERS/Athar Hussain (PAKISTAN HEALTH)

Children suffering from Thalassemia undergo a blood transfusion process in Karachi May 7, 2009. World Thalassemia Day will be observed on Friday. REUTERS/Athar Hussain (PAKISTAN HEALTH)

Prinka Shahani, 8, who suffers from Thalassemia, takes part in an awareness campaign rally in the northeastern Indian city of Siliguri January 12, 2009. Thalassemia is an inherited disorder of haemoglobin in red blood cells, characterised by anaemia and found in individuals of Mediterranean, African, or Southeast Asian ancestry. REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri (INDIA)

Children suffering from Thalassemia hold a placard during an awareness campaign rally in the northeastern Indian city of Siliguri January 12, 2009. Thalassemia is an inherited disorder of haemoglobin in red blood cells, characterised by anaemia and found in individuals of Mediterranean, African, or Southeast Asian ancestry. REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri (INDIA)

Children suffering from Thalassemia take part in an awareness campaign rally in the northeastern Indian city of Siliguri January 12, 2009. Thalassemia is an inherited disorder of haemoglobin in red blood cells, characterised by anaemia and found in individuals of Mediterranean, African, or Southeast Asian ancestry. REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri (INDIA)

Suvro Joti Pal Chowdhury, 7, who is suffering from thalassemia, takes part in an awareness campaign rally in the northeastern Indian city of Siliguri January 12, 2009. Thalassemia is an inherited disorder of haemoglobin in red blood cells, characterised by anaemia and is prevalent in individuals of Mediterranean, African, or Southeast Asian ancestry. REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri (INDIA)

Members of Thalassemia and AIDS prevention society, a non-government organisation, take part in a candlelight rally on the eve of World AIDS Day in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata November 30, 2008. Official figures show that more than 10 percent of intravenous drug users in India are infected with HIV, a higher prevalence than among prostitutes. The country's overall HIV/AIDS prevalence rate is about 0.9 percent for those aged between 15 and 49. REUTERS/Parth Sanyal (INDIA)

A member of Thalassemia and AIDS prevention society, a non-government organisation, takes part in a candlelight rally on the eve of World AIDS Day in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata November 30, 2008. Official figures show that more than 10 percent of intravenous drug users in India are infected with HIV, a higher prevalence than among prostitutes. The country's overall HIV/AIDS prevalence rate is about 0.9 percent for those aged between 15 and 49. REUTERS/Parth Sanyal (INDIA)

A member of Thalassemia and AIDS prevention society, a non-government organisation, takes part in a candlelight rally on the eve of World AIDS Day in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata November 30, 2008. Official figures show that more than 10 percent of intravenous drug users in India are infected with HIV, a higher prevalence than among prostitutes. The country's overall HIV/AIDS prevalence rate is about 0.9 percent for those aged between 15 and 49. REUTERS/Parth Sanyal (INDIA)

Members of Thalassemia and AIDS prevention society, a non-government organisation, take part in a candlelight rally on the eve of World AIDS Day in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata November 30, 2008. Official figures show that more than 10 percent of intravenous drug users in India are infected with HIV, a higher prevalence than among prostitutes. The country's overall HIV/AIDS prevalence rate is about 0.9 percent for those aged between 15 and 49. REUTERS/Parth Sanyal (INDIA)

Two-year-old Rimo Das, a Thalassemia patient, drinks milk on his mother's lap inside the office of a non-government organisation (NGO) in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata July 15, 2008. Das' parents on Monday said their son was not given proper attention by the medical staff of a government-run hospital after he was refused admission for a blood transfusion. REUTERS/Parth Sanyal (INDIA)

Two-year-old Rimo Das, a Thalassemia patient, drinks milk inside the office of a non-government organisation (NGO) in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata July 15, 2008. Das' parents on Monday said their son was not given proper attention by the medical staff of a government-run hospital after he was refused admission for a blood transfusion. REUTERS/Parth Sanyal (INDIA)

Suvro Joti Pal Chowdhury, 6, suffering from Thalassemia, holds a placard during an awareness campaign on the occasion of World Thalassemia Day in the northeastern Indian city of Siliguri May 8, 2008. Thalassemia is an inherited disorder of haemoglobin in red blood cells, characterized by anaemia and found in individuals of Mediterranean, African, or Southeast Asian ancestry. REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri (INDIA)

Gouri Dey, 14, suffering from Thalassemia, holds a placard during an awareness campaign on the occasion of World Thalassemia Day in the northeastern Indian city of Siliguri May 8, 2008. Thalassemia is an inherited disorder of haemoglobin in red blood cells, characterized by anaemia and found in individuals of Mediterranean, African, or Southeast Asian ancestry. REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri (INDIA)

Children suffering from Thalassemia undergo blood transfusion in Multan May 8, 2007. World Thalassemia Day is being observed today. REUTERS/Asim Tanveer (PAKISTAN)

Children suffering from Thalassemia undergo blood transfusion in Multan May 8, 2007. World Thalassemia Day is being observed today. REUTERS/Asim Tanveer (PAKISTAN)

Pakistani children suffering from Thalessemia undergo a blood transfusion process in the central city of Multan May 8, 2006. World Thalessemia Day is being observed on Monday. There are 145,000 patients suffering from the Thalessemia in Pakistan, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health said. REUTERS/Asim Tanveer

Pakistani children suffering from Thalessemia undergo a blood transfusion process in the central city of Multan May 8, 2004. World Thalessemia Day is being observed on Saturday. There are 145,000 patients suffering from the Thalessemia in Pakistan, a spokesman for the ministery of health said. REUTERS/Asim Tanveer ZH/CP

Pakistani children suffering from Thalessemia undergo a blood transfusion process in the central city of Multan May 8, 2004. World Thalessemia Day is being observed on Saturday. There are 145,000 patients suffering from the Thalessemia in Pakistan, a spokesman for the ministery of health said. REUTERS/Asim Tanveer ZH/CP

BOLLYWOOD SUPERSTAR SHAH RUKH KHAN RECEIVES ROSE FROM A THALASSEMIA
AFFECTED CHILD DURING A CHARITABLE SHOW IN CALCUTTA.


Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan receives a rose from a thalassemia
affected child during a charitable show in the eastern Indian city of
Calcutta August 7, 2002. Khan came to Calcutta to raise funds for
thalassemia patients. Thalassemia is inherited form of anemia occurring
chiefly among people of Mediterranean descent, caused by faulty
synthesis of part of the hemoglobin molecule. REUTERS/Jayanta Shaw

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan delivers his speech to audience
during a charitable show in the eastern Indian city of Calcutta on
August 7, 2002.Khan came to Calcutta for raising funds for thalassemia
patients. Thalassemia is inherited form of anemia occurring chiefly
among people of Mediterranean descent, caused by faulty synthesis of
part of the hemoglobin molecule. REUTERS/Jayanta Shaw REUTERS

JS/

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan receives roses from the thalassemia
affected children during a charitable show in the eastern Indian city
of Calcutta on August 7, 2002. Khan came to Calcutta for raising funds
for thalassemia patients. Thalassemia is inherited form of anemia
occurring chiefly among people of Mediterranean descent, caused by
faulty synthesis of part of the hemoglobin molecule. REUTERS/Jayanta
Shaw

JS/

Handcuffed magician Chanchal Lahiri is being lowered into the river Hooghly in a glass cage box, bolted with 36 locks, from the famous Howrah Bridge in eastern Indian city of Calcutta April 26. Lahiri popped up from the river half a minute later without the handcuffs after he was dropped into the river from the bridge. He is raising funds for thalassemia patients. Thalassemia is inherited form of anemia occurring chiefly among people of Mediterranean descent, caused by faulty synthesis of part of the hemoglobin molecule.

REUTERS