Country’s first “SMA clinic” being launched

A clinic is being launched with the Spinal Muscular Atrophy or SMA patients for the first time in the country.

The daylong “Multi-disciplinary SMA clinic” will be started at 9:00 am on Tuesday (July 2).

Experts from various disciplines including renowned doctors, therapists, and nutritionists of the country involved in SMA treatment will provide medical services on that day.

'Cure SMA Bangladesh', the only organization working for the welfare of SMA patients in the country, is arranging the multidisciplinary SMA clinic. Barakah General Hospital is assisting the program. The clinic will be held at the hospital’s Razarbagh branch in the capital.

SMA patients from several regions of the country will visit the clinic to get service. The clinic will also provide advice on therapy, sample collection and testing, and necessary devices.

Access to health care is a fundamental right of every citizen of the country. However, there is no complete treatment system for this rare and incurable disease yet.

In this circumstance, the members of 'Cure SMA Bangladesh Foundation' is considering this SMS clinic as a success. The organization has a plan to continue this effort from now on. The organization has already conducted various programs including seminars, virtual consultation meetings, rallies on SMA awareness.

SMA or Spinal Muscular Atrophy is an incurable rare disease. This rare genetic disorder is caused by the loss of motor neurons that control muscle movement. SMA ranges from type one to type four depending on the severity of the disease. Even if its medicine found in the market, it is high-priced for the general people. Like many countries in the world, our country also has patients with this disease. However, due to lack of awareness, a large proportion of people suffering from this disease are not getting diagnosed and treated. As a result, many children in the country are dying due to this disease following the lack of treatment.

Getting early treatment before the development of SMA symptoms, is helpful for better treatment results. Early treatment can be done with the help of a newborn screening. An affected child can be given a normal life through supportive care including therapy along with medication. Even by testing the amniotic fluid during pregnancy, necessary measures can be taken to know whether the unborn child is affected. So, awareness can play an effective role in preventing this disease.