The Foundation's Activities

1996-2023

The Mediterranean Blood Diseases Foundation (AKHAV) was established in 1996 with the participation of patients' families, businessmen, and physicians to conduct world-standard practices, education, and scientific research in the field of hereditary and acquired blood diseases, especially Thalassemia (Mediterranean Anemia).

Summary of the scientific studies and services carried out by our foundation in this field since its establishment:

- In 1996, the "First Thalassemia, Then Marriage" campaign was initiated in collaboration with the Antalya Governorship, Antalya Municipality, and Health Directorate. As a result, the incidence of Thalassemia births in the city center of Antalya decreased by 95%. This campaign expanded to 33 provinces in 2003, 41 provinces in 2013, and became routine in all 81 provinces in 2018.

- In 1998, the "Don't Let Thalassemia Flowers Fade" campaign was launched in collaboration with the Antalya Governorship, Health Directorate, and Press/Media. This campaign aimed to continuously provide blood donations for every Thalassemia patient through the "Blood Mother and Blood Father" program. The campaign was transferred to the Turkish Red Crescent in 2006 and implemented nationwide.

- In 1998, the "Antalya Thalassemia Prevention Project" was initiated in collaboration with Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine Public Health Department and Antalya Health Directorate. The project, aiming to increase community awareness and consciousness through education and information, continues with the collaboration of all public and civil society organizations.

- In 2000, the 1st International Thalassemia Summer School was organized in Antalya under the auspices of President Süleyman Demirel.

- In 2002, the 2nd International Thalassemia Summer School was organized in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus under the auspices of President Rauf Denktaş.

- In 2004, AKHAV Thalassemia Diagnosis Center was established with the approval of the Ministry of Health. This center continues to conduct Thalassemia tests for couples intending to marry.

- In 2004, the 3rd International Thalassemia Summer School was organized in Antalya in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Turkish Blood Centers, Transfusion Association, and the European Transfusion Committee.

- In 2006 and 2008, the 4th and 5th International Thalassemia Summer Schools were organized in Antalya in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Turkish Thalassemia Federation, of which our foundation's president was the chairman.

- In 2008, the first Thalassemia and Blood Center in Turkey was established in collaboration with the Antalya Training and Research Hospital, philanthropist businessman Adem Tolunay, and the Ministry of Health. The Adem Tolunay Thalassemia and Blood Center serves not only Antalya but also patients from all 81 provinces.

- In 2010, an education campaign for muhtars (local administrators) was conducted with the support of the Antalya Governorship. A total of 540 muhtars and municipality marriage officers were trained in 18 districts.

- In 2011, the 12th World Thalassemia Congress was organized in Antalya in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, World Thalassemia Federation, and the Turkish Thalassemia Federation.

- In 2013, the "TOUCH THE HUMAN" project, which included three months of free public examination and screening in Zeytinköy, was carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Antalya Provincial Public Health Directorate, Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, and the Zeytinköy Development Association.

- In 2013, the 6th International Thalassemia Summer School and Congress were organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Thalassemia Federation.

- In 2014, with the support of the Antalya Governorship and Antalya Provincial Public Health Directorate, "Pre-marital Examination and Counseling Training" was provided to 30 midwives and nurses from Antalya, Isparta, and Burdur at the Muratpaşa Reproductive Health Training Center.

- In 2015, on March 14th, "Thalassemia Awareness Project" was carried out with the participation of medical biology and genetics students from Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine.

- In 2016, within the framework of the PRODES project conducted by the Association of Mediterranean Blood Diseases with the support of the Ministry of Interior Directorate of Associations, the "Talas Emmi Hand in Hand with Local Administrators" project provided Thalassemia training to local administrators and muhtars in 19 districts.

- In 2016, the "THALAS UNCLE - TALAS EMMİ" project was realized as part of the EU Erasmus+ KA1 - Youth Mobility of Individuals project. Fifty young people from seven countries received Thalassemia awareness training in Antalya.

- In 2017, within the scope of the EU Erasmus+ Vocational Education Program 2016 Key Action-2 Strategic Partnerships for Vocational Education, our project named "EQUALITY," which aims to provide diagnosis and treatment of endocrine complications for a better life for Thalassemic youth, was accepted.

- In 2018, the project conducted in collaboration with the Antalya Governorship, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya Thalassemia Association, Ferrara Quisiana Hospital in Italy, and Joseph Carrera Institute at the University of Barcelona successfully concluded. The project developed monitoring standards for Thalassemia patients nationwide based on global practices.

- In 2019, the "EQUALITY PLUS" project on the issue of "Thalassemia Problems and Measures for Migrants" was accepted by the European Union with the coordination of our foundation, the support of the Ministry of Health Public Health General Directorate, and partnership with Italy and Spain.

- Between 2019-2022, the project was carried out in collaboration with the Turkish Ministry of Health Public Health General Directorate, Ferrara Quisiana Hospital in Italy, and Joseph Carrera Institute at the University of Barcelona.

- In 2023, as a gift to the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey, our foundation, under the leadership of President Prof. Dr. Duran Canatan, published the book "THALASSEMIA AND HEMOGLOBINOPATHIES - DIAGNOSIS-TREATMENT-PREVENTION" with contributions from a hundred scientists from twenty-two countries.

- In 2023, our foundation initiated the "AKHAV TV First Health" program, moderated by Gürsel Kaya, a member of the Board of Directors, with six expert interviews in the first two months of the year.

In conclusion, our foundation, under the leadership of our president, who is a member of the Ministry of Health Thalassemia Scientific Committee, the president of the National Thalassemia Council, and the president of the Thalassemia Federation, has reduced the disease by ninety percent with Thalassemia prevention activities across the country over the past twenty years. Currently, there are 6000 registered patients in Turkey, but without the prevention project in the last twenty years, this number would have been 11,000. About 5000 newborn Thalassemia cases have been prevented, resulting in significant savings of approximately 50 million USD annually for the country.

Our foundation has been conducting regular education and screening activities on hereditary blood diseases, especially Thalassemia, in Antalya and its surroundings on radio and television, in schools, municipalities, and non-governmental organizations.

Thanks to the Thalassemia prevention work initiated by our foundation, the number of patients in Antalya is now 700, while it should have been 1500. About 800 potential patients have been prevented each year, leading to an annual saving of approximately 8 million USD for the Antalya economy.

We continue our activities as an example of how a non-governmental organization carries out its mission in collaboration with the public.

December 31, 2023

Board of Directors of the Mediterranean Blood Diseases Foundation

President: Prof. Dr. Duran Canatan

Vice President: Attorney Ali Rıza Tıraş

General Secretary: Mustafa Ülgüt

Treasurer: Hayri Oruç

Member: Dr. Özlem Zümrüt

Member: Dr. Zekiye Özdemir

Member: Gürsel Kaya