A thalassemia treatment center has opened in Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province, with financial support from a charitable organization, costing $30,000.

Islamuddin Shinwari, the head of the sponsoring organization, states that at this center, approximately twenty people receive blood transfusions every two hours.

This medical center, which has 15 beds, can accommodate about 20 patients daily.

Shinwari commented, "We perform all necessary tests. We provide the patients' blood, and all services here are free."

Aminullah Sharif, the head of Nangarhar's Public Health Department, said, "If we do not establish centers for them, their numbers will increase day by day. Therefore, we are striving to create treatment centers for their care."

Moreover, many individuals suffering from thalassemia have expressed their satisfaction with the opening of this center and are calling on other organizations to establish similar treatment facilities.

Mohammad, a patient, said, "Due to repeated blood transfusions, our livers have become enlarged, our body's iron levels have increased, and our skulls have expanded."

Navidullah, another patient, said, "When we come to the public health center, sometimes there is no blood available, so our request to the youth is to donate blood for us, and we ask traders to establish such centers for us."

Homayoun, 47, a driver whose two daughters and two sons suffer from thalassemia, faces severe economic challenges and struggles to provide for his family's expenses; however, he is compelled to procure blood for his children every month.

Homayoun, a caregiver, said, "On Eid days, all children ask their parents for new clothes and shoes, but my children ask me for blood. Only God knows the pain I endure."

According to the Nangarhar Public Health Department, there are currently about 1,700 individuals in the province suffering from thalassemia.

Officials from the department say they are making efforts to address the challenges faced by patients by constructing more treatment centers.