Its birth         The inception of a support group for thalassemic patients was the brainchild of Dr. Alendry P. caviles Jr., head Hematology-Oncology-Immunology Unit, the primeover behind this organization, together with his Associate dr. Ernesto d’J. Yuson. The beginnings of birth pains of Balikatang Thalassemia was felt in midyear of 1993 when parents of Thalassemic children and their doctors had their first meeting in Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club in April 20, 1993. The vision is the creation of an organization that will help the thalassemic child meet his medical needs, provide education and counseling, promote brotherhood, unity and kindred relationship among its members for the purpose of mutual assistance, protection and solicitude for each other.         In 1994 CMCP was tasked by the Philippine Society of Hematology and blood transfusion to house the Thalassemia Center of the Philippines.         In June 7, 1995, Balikatang Thalassemia was duly registered in the Securities and Exchange Commission with S.E.C. Reg. No. ANO95-02098 as a non-stock, non-profit, non-political corporation under the efforts of the officers headed by its President-Elect Jose Antonio Henares.         In July 21, 1999, then Secretary of the department of health Alberto G. Romualdez, Jr. activated Republic Act 7719, otherwise known as the National Blood Services Act of 1994 mandating Childrens Medical center Philippines (now the Dr. Fe del Mundo Medical center Foundation Philippines) as the “Thalassemia Center of the Philippines”. Its growth         The organization had its share of growing pains in the subsequent years. In February 17, 2001, through shove and push from the indefatigable Dr. Alendry P. Caviles Jr., parents of Thalassemic patients and friends met and reactivated the BATHA. New set of board of trustees were elected from among themselves, from which the officers for the fiscal year 2001.         In june 14, 2001, the induction of the newly inducted officers coincided with te first Thalassemia Workshop, which tackled the various needs of the Thalassemic child, 6 committees were formed out of the workshop that will handle the six different programs of the organization.         At present, the organization is geared towards realizing its programs under the leadership of its incumbent president Mr. Abel Silva.

Facts         There are two types of hemoglobin, hemoglobin A and hemoglobin F. Either will do the job of carrying oxygen in the blood. Babies are born with hemoglobin F, but after a few months, the body shuts off and starts making hemoglobin A. That's called the hemoglobin switch.         Thalassemia patients don't make enough hemoglobin A.         Most patients are treated with a monthly transfusion of red blood cells. The transfusions help the child feel better, and can prevent heart failure and bone deformity. But, the frequent blood transfusions also build up iron in the body and that can damage the heart and the liver.         The most common method of ridding the body of iron is to use a drug called deferoxamine. But it means a painful and time confusing process, where the patient is hooked up to a pump over a 12-hour period. Younger patients quite often want to stop taking the drug.         Those patients who are able to tolerate the blood transfusions and the drugs now live 20 to 30 years longer than they did even 30 years ago.         A small number of patients are treated with bone marrow transplants, but this is only available when a suitable donor can be found.