About 350 million people worldwide carry the thalassemia gene.

In some regions of southern China, the carrier rate is as high as 16.8%.

Children with severe thalassemia require lifelong blood transfusions and iron chelation therapy, with annual treatment costs exceeding 100,000 RMB.

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Behind these numbers are the heavy burdens of countless thalassemia patients.

To help thalassemia families better understand the disease, master caregiving skills, and improve quality of life, on August 16, 2025, GoBroad Nanfang Chunfu Hematology Research Institute hosted the public welfare event “Caring for Thalassemia”. Nearly 60 thalassemia families attended, building together a “defense line” against thalassemia.

Patient Stories: Transplantation as a New Beginning

“From the moment our child was diagnosed, our lives changed completely.”
On stage, a mother of two children with thalassemia from Jiangxi, China, spoke with a trembling yet resolute voice, recounting her family’s doubly difficult journey of overcoming thalassemia:
the worry upon first learning of the disease, the shock when both sisters were diagnosed, the crushing burden of medical expenses, and the anxiety before transplantation... The path of curing thalassemia through hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is far from easy, but it is a road leading to new life. Though filled with uncertainty and challenges, the family worked together to overcome every obstacle, and now they are on the verge of recovery and returning home.

Three thalassemia patients and their families from different cities in China also shared their battles against the disease and the joy of being cured at the Chunfu Research Institute. In the audience, families still struggling with thalassemia offered long and heartfelt applause, sending blessings to those about to begin a new life. These stories are not only about a few families, but also a reflection of the heartfelt hopes of countless thalassemia households for the future.

Medical Outreach: Using Expertise to Build a “Defense Line”

Scientific understanding of thalassemia is the first step in prevention, control, and improving patients’ quality of life. At the event, Director Liao Jianyun and Dr. Zhang Weiwei from Chunfu Institute explained and answered questions about the current status and progress of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, as well as standardized transfusion and chelation therapy.

Director Liao emphasized that allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is one of the most effective treatments for severe thalassemia. Chunfu Institute has performed over 1,400 transplants, with an overall survival rate of more than 97%. Haploidentical transplantation is now highly advanced. As long as parents are healthy, children may have the opportunity for transplantation.

For some severe and transfusion-dependent intermediate thalassemia patients, Dr. Zhang explained the importance of regular transfusion and iron chelation therapy. Standardized treatment and proper management of transfusion complications can ensure children's growth and development, while greatly improving survival and quality of life.

After addressing families’ questions on blood matching, transplantation preparation, and prenatal screening, Professor Li Chunfu and Director Liao provided free medical consultations. Long lines formed at the consultation tables, where doctors carefully reviewed reports, examined patients, and offered tailored treatment advice.

Public Welfare Support: Relieving Families' Burdens

Since its founding, GoBroad Nanfang Chunfu Research Institute has been committed to supporting thalassemia patients through free screenings, prevention training, fee reduction policies, and collaboration with foundations for financial aid—striving to help families overcome their medical and economic challenges.

Preventing and controlling thalassemia starts with action.