Alhamdulillah no doubt we are blessed!, how.. well DaCoolSite has got page rank of 5, we are getting great response mashaAllah, we have launched Naat & Nasheeds Section, Sms Corner, and many different things are lined up.

That was about website, now personal stuff, I got a bad news few days ago about my health, but again HE has helped us and that bad news turns good news Alhamdulillah!!! all thanks to HIM!!

Am posting few images/icon/logos for the friends who want to help us in Thalassemia.Com.Pk, if you want you can put any of the image you like on your site/blog, that would be a great help.

Thanks,
Prayers Needed! and ofcourse Support needed too!

Take Cares, Allah Hafiz
-ayesha

Ahmedabad: On 26/7, Mahesh Trivedi was a busy man. Till 2 am, he was managing things at Red Cross as people, many first-timers, rushed in to donate blood for the blast victims.

But, his real mission in life is tackling thalassemia and exhorting people to donate blood. Gregarious and blessed with a hearty sense of humour, the honorary secretary of Red Cross Society, Ahmedabad, is a popular man and this helps him spread his message.

“Before getting married, couples should first take a thalassemia test. If both are thalassemia minor, the girl should tie a rakhi to the boy instead of them exchanging rings,” he joked recently while addressing students of MG Science College. His light take on the grave subject had the youngsters in splits, but would also have led them to ponder.

Trivedi, 69, who retired as controller of examination of an Industrial Training Institute (ITI), delivers at least 90 lectures a year in schools and colleges in the state.

“I have been associated with Red Cross since 1969. After retirement, I decided to work full-time ,” says the man who doesn’t believe in wasting a moment.

Red Cross recently launched a project to prevent birth of thalassemia major children by 2020 in collaboration with Ahmedabad district panchayat. The idea is to eradicate thalassemia from the state. Trivedi is playing a major role in the project, the key to which is raising awareness levels.

This year, Ahmedabad Red Cross celebrates the silver jubilee of its blood transfusion services for those afflicted with thalassemia. So far, it has adopted more than 700 thalassemia major children. They are provided blood without replacement, free blood transfusions and oral tablets. And, if any child is in trouble , it’s Trivedi who is contacted.

“This kind of devotion is rare. Others are inspired by him because he sets an example by his own actions . He’s the right man to promote blood donation, as he has himself donated 117 times,” says Mukesh Patel, president of Red Cross Society, Ahmedabad.

Courtesy by: The Times of India

Photo by: Karl Jeffs/Gulf News - Dr Mariam is the first woman to become Undersecretary at the Ministry of Health.

Efforts to empower UAE nationals

Dubai: A new authority under the Dubai government was recently set up to act as an umbrella for social service organisations and was also tasked with promoting national identity and empowering UAE nationals.

Gulf News spoke to Dr Mariam, Director General of the Community Development Authority (CDA), about the authority’s plans and challenges ahead.

Gulf News: What is the objective of CDA?

Dr Mariam: CDA was launched to develop a framework for social development in line with the social objectives of the Dubai government as highlighted in the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015.

Through specialised entities, we aim to create a strong social safety net for everyone living in Dubai and enhance social cohesion between different nationalities and groups as well as promote our national identity.

Our objectives are to encourage social cohesion, social inclusion and social protection, to promote the national identity, and to empower nationals.

We would like to become the umbrella organisation for social service organisations and be able to come up with a legal framework under which these organisations would fall.

It has come to our attention that many social service organisations in the UAE are not licensed and we would organise the sector better by coming up with additional guidelines.

As you know, some of the accusations that the UAE face are lack of data and credible sources [to back them up]. We have been emphasising [becoming a source of data on Dubai] from day one.

The Dubai Statistics Centre has helped with this …

But we didn’t rely on the centre alone. Our research and strategy department has specialists in social studies and social analysis … [to] help us work with some of the social trends.

We [plan] to have an annual report … but a lot of it relies on surveys that will be conducted and help us assess the needs of every individual resident in Dubai according to geographical locations. The services resulting from that will be tailored to individual needs.

How significant a role is CDA going to be playing?

Ours is a monitoring and policy related role. We don’t devise new policies but enforce and renew current policies in Dubai that help us implement our objectives. As for the federal level, we coordinate with [federal bodies] to enforce the federal laws that weren’t being enforced previously …

We … provide services based on studies [on future] social requirements and how the different bodies in Dubai can cooperate to fulfil the requirements, whether it is legal, administrative, security-related or financial.

It was mentioned with the launch of the programme that CDA would be tasked with strengthening the national identity. Is the establishment of an official body with that objective indicative of a realisation that there’s a problem?

I wouldn’t call it a problem. Let’s say that there are some needs and we as the government are fulfilling these.

The media often says there is a need to preserve or protect the national identity. The national identity doesn’t need protection because it is here and so are the nationals, the natives of this country?

Our objective is to promote national identity, to ensure that the UAE national is distinguishable and noticeable. …

We at the authority ensure that the national identity is visible in society. This is not just about how we cook, eat or dance, or our portrayal in the media. We emphasise empowering Emiratis in Dubai with skills and expertise to allow them to compete and contribute in the development of society on par with non-nationals.

We’ve had more than a workshop and brainstorming session with all types of [people], … and found mainly that many Emiratis need support to be able to participate in the fierce competition [for work in Dubai]. And we can help - whether through enabling them to speak a global language, teach them skills, and help them … communicate with [other cultures].

How do you expect to deal with some of the concerns UAE nationals have about the rapidly changing population make-up of the UAE that is making them a minority?

We are working on research about the social needs of Dubai’s population … The mere presence of expatriates here who are specialised in their fields reflects positively on the development of society. Their presence here is of a consultative nature and we need to utilise [their expertise] to [learn from them].

I’m not denying that some Emiratis might feel that expatriates are given priority. But we at the CDA take note of these observations. [Our] survey will give the respondent the chance to [express their views on these issues].

What role does the Arabic language play in the Emirati identity at a time when it is seemingly being phased out in education and in some government entities?

The Arabic language is one of the [basic] elements of Emirati identity and we are trying to promote Arabic to non-nationals. There will be a number of initiatives from CDA to preserve the language and promote it. The programme will focus on three levels - legislation, auditing and service levels.

‘It is important to push for change’

Dubai: When Gulf News asked Dr Mariam Mattar why she would be the most suitable person to head the Community Development Authority (CDA), she spoke of a personal experience that made her feel an obligation to contribute to society.

“In 1999, two weeks before my final year exams at Rashid Hospital, a tragedy hit my family, and me particularly. I lost my beloved father to artery block, something that could have been prevented with proper medical care. Back then, I decided not to take my exams, however, everyone at Rashid Hospital gathered to show me support and reminded me of the impact that family physicians have on the individuals and communities they treat.

“The death of my father was a turning point in my life following which I discovered the importance of taking the initiative and pushing for change on all levels, mostly at individual but also social, political and regulatory [levels].”

Health care: Leading woman

• Dr Mariam is the first woman to become Undersecretary at the Ministry of Health, where she supervised initiatives designed to make primary health care available to the biggest share of population in the northern emirates.
• In 2005, Dr Mariam was the leader of the executive team dedicated to research key social development issues described in the “Dubai Strategic Plan 2008-2015″.
• She is the founder and executive director of two non-government and non-profit organisations - the UAE Down’s Syndrome Association and the UAE Genetic Diseases Association.
• Dr Mariam initiated many community programmes such as “UAE Free of Thalassemia by 2012″, and the “Wellness Centre”.
• She graduated from Dubai Medical College in 1999 as top of her class and specialised in community medicine.

Somewhere in 2005 I shared this news with you guys that me, Salman and few people are working on a project which would inshaAllah rock the world, because of many issues, troubles, and personal problems we kind of stopped working but now again we are working and its launched in its beta version…

Let me tell you guys what project is it, what is the background and what it is offering you…

It’s a sister concerned website of Thalassemia.Com.Pk, what ever we going to earn will be donated to the needy, Its an entertainment portal offering Songs, Wall Papers, Movies, Reviews, Recipes, Msn Display Pictures, Lyrics, Games and much more going to be added soon!!!

We all know that a serious website earns less than the entertainment website… so we are trying to gather more and more money to help the needy…

Do I need to invite you guys for this noble cause? No so here is the addy, www.DaCoolSite.com : )! See ya soon!

Take Cares, Allah Hafiz
-Ayesha

Okay after my last post… many friends asked me about *ahem ahem*, they were like you are hiding something and stuff, and few friends asked about Thalassemia Major and their marriages…, so I thought to write a post about it… here it is:

About Ahem Ahem: there is no one, yeah… am single but just like any other mother my mother is concerned about my marriage and blah blah… so one thing cleared… now moving to Thalassemia Major and their marriages

There was a time when it was said a Thalassemic can’t live till 18 years old, but it has been proved wrong : ) and am glad me and Salman are the examples of this thing, me being 20 years old and Salman being 22 years old MashaAllah.

Many friends ask me about Thalassemia and life with Thalassemia, and I keep telling them Thalassemic life is like any other human being’s life, nothing different… they live, they eat, they drink, they walk, they sleep, they are human being! Just they have to be careful about their treatment, that’s it….

If you maintain your health you can live up to 40 / 50 years…

One day a friend asked me, are you not scared of death? You are ill you must be scared na?, I didn’t want to be harsh but I said ‘do you know when you going to die? Do you know the time and day your life gonna end?’ when a normal doesn’t know about his/her life then what is the difference between us and them? Nothing : ) yeaah nothing! Even an illiterate would understand this…

Marriage is like bit of issue whether its for a Thalassemic or a normal person, but marriage for Thalassemic is possible, they can marry any normal person (blood test is required before marrying), live a normal life and even can have babies! Whats the difference remained now? Once again nothing!

Thalassemic just have to take proper care, proper treatment and awareness about the disease, then they can easily beat any other normal person : )

Am quoting some related information about Thalassemia Marriage and Children from Thalassemia.Com.Pk

Do thalassemics necessarily have thalassemic children?
No. Usually their children will be healthy, but it does depend on who they marry.
Figure 8 shows that if a thalassemic marries a “normal”, all the children will be healthy carriers. They must inherit a thalassemia gene from their thalassemia parent, and they must inherit a normal one from the normal parent, so none of them can possibly have thalassemia major.

Figure 9 shows that if a thalassemic marries a thalassemic carrier, in each pregnancy there is a 50 % chance that the child will be thalassemic, and a 50 % chance that it will be a healthy carrier. This is quite a common situation, since thalassemia carriers sometimes have a special understanding for people with thalassemia major. Then they have to choose whether to use parental diagnosis or not.

Figure 10 shows that is one thalassemic marries another, all their children will be thalassemics. This situation arises sometimes too, because thalassemics have so much in common, they often feel particularly close to each other. When it does happen, they usually decide not to have any children. but in the future, if it becomes possible to correct thalassemia by genetic engineering, it could become possible even for such couples to have their own, healthy children.

It depend on us how we take things, how we look at things, the famous line: glass is half empty or half full : )? All we have to become positive and optimistic then we can achieve anything… that’s what I have learnt so far…, your views change positive into negative, negative into positive, its you who can make a difference in you and in the world… so when you starting to make a difference in yourself?

Your question/query is welcome… I would love to answer any question you want to ask about Thalassemia or about my life : )

Who is sending proposal after reading all the information ;)? Lol kidding!

Take cares, Allah Hafiz
-ayesha