About Us
Humanity and Compassion
Humanity is about feeling and sharing the pain of others. Omair Sana Foundation (OSF) serves as a platform to fulfill this purpose. When people face unbearable and irreparable losses, they find themselves at a crossroads: either let the tragedy consume them or compose themselves and channel their energy into helping others. Dr. Kashif Hussain Ansari chose the latter path when he established the Omair Sana Foundation 15 years ago, following the loss of his two children, 5-year-old Omair and 3-year-old Sana, to a blood-related disease.
Dedication to a Cause
After the tragic loss of his children, Dr. Ansari decided to dedicate his life to helping children suffering from blood-related diseases, with full support from his family. The foundation’s primary goal is to provide treatment for Thalassemia patients and work toward a Thalassemia-free Pakistan. Beyond medical treatment, OSF also creates recreational opportunities for the patients, aiming to improve their quality of life.
Addressing a Critical Need
It is estimated that around 6,000 children with Thalassemia Major are born in Pakistan every year, and many of them succumb to the disease due to a lack of resources. OSF strives to alleviate the suffering of these children, particularly in third-world countries where the disease is common and often incurable. Currently, the foundation supports around 400 Thalassemia patients, providing them with blood transfusions and free medication, funded by generous donors.
Advocacy and Prevention
In addition to patient care, OSF is at the forefront of advocating for legislation to prevent Thalassemia. Recognizing that Thalassemia is a genetic disorder passed from parents to children, the foundation emphasizes the importance of pre-marriage Thalassemia tests. They actively engage legislators and influencers to make this test a prerequisite for marriage, aiming to reduce the spread of the disease.
Expanding Efforts and Collaboration
OSF also extends capacity-building support to other Thalassemia centers across the country. Their prevention and education programs continually raise awareness about the disease, emphasizing the importance of early detection and treatment. The foundation collaborates with various NGOs and medical institutions to offer Thalassemia screening and treatment to those in need.
Our Mission
OSF's Mission
The foundation’s mission is focused on several key objectives:
- Raising awareness about Thalassemia and preventive measures.
- Promoting pre-marriage Thalassemia tests and screening during pregnancy.
- Providing free treatment to needy patients.
- Offering educational and recreational activities for Thalassemia patients.
Thalassemia Patient Management
OSF runs a comprehensive Patient Support Program that assists over 400 Thalassemia patients by providing essential treatments like blood transfusions and medication. For patients in need of bone marrow transplants (BMT), the foundation has supported over 25 transplants to date. OSF also ensures that children who cannot attend mainstream schools due to their health receive education through classes organized by the foundation.
Family Screening Program
Recognizing that Thalassemia is a genetic disorder, OSF conducts both Immediate Family Screening (IFS) and Extended Family Screening (EFS) programs. These programs aim to identify the gene in families affected by Thalassemia, providing early detection and preventing the spread of the disease across generations. To date, the program has screened over 125 families.
Pre-Natal Screening
OSF offers Chorionic Villous Sampling (CVS), a test that detects Thalassemia in unborn babies. This test helps parents make informed decisions about their pregnancy. The foundation has conducted prenatal screening for over 460 expectant mothers and recommended 150 abortions based on the results. This program has saved millions in national healthcare costs.
Social and Genetic Counseling
Counseling plays a vital role in preventing Thalassemia. OSF conducts both group and individual counseling sessions for families, medical professionals, and the general public. The aim is to educate these groups about the disease, overcoming social taboos and fears. The foundation plans to expand its counseling efforts to cover at least 700 families with Thalassemic children.
Awareness Programs
OSF runs periodic workshops to raise awareness among the families of Thalassemia patients. They have completed a pilot project screening 100 families, the results of which have been published in a medical journal. Through these efforts, the foundation seeks to foster a collaborative approach among all stakeholders to improve the lives of Thalassemia patients.
A Call for Support
OSF EXECUTIVES
President OSF
Dr Saqib Hussain Ansari
