People believe strongly about matching horoscopes when getting married. With the advancement of technology in an ever changing world and an increasing number of people having blood related diseases, the community should take the lead in building a healthy population, he said. Today a blood test prior to marriage can tell you if you are likely to have a child suffering from thalassaemia. A public education programme will be held in Kurunegala and Moneragala, two vulnerable districts where most of the thalassaemia patients are reported. The Government is also in the process of identifying such patients and places and establishing a ward in hospitals for such patients.
Plans drawn up for the millennium include the establishment of a voluntary donor list.
Medical experts at the seminar were of the view that regular, voluntary blood donors are the safest donors. Unlike today, where you can count on the blood bank to get blood, about ten years back, people had a tough time having to find blood donors. Before 1992, we didn't get blood from the Central Blood Bank. If people don't donate, the patient doesn't get blood. People pay around Rs.