Desi Talk

April 17, 2026 16 DESI TALK Building aMovement, Not Just aMission By engaging individuals at a young age - particularly before marriage - the Centre addresses the root of genetic transmission, transforming prevention into a shared societal responsibility. In doing so, LTPC is not merely delivering healthcare; it is reshaping mind sets and building a culture of informed, preventive living. A Movement Takes Flight: Gujarat Leading IndiaToward aThalassaemia free Future Asignificant milestone in this journey was achieved on June 06, 2025, when the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendra Patel, visited Project 'Life'. During his visit, he strongly encouraged the organization to intensify its preventive efforts and to expand the initiative at a national level. He inspired Project 'Life' to conceptualize and lead a comprehensive campaign titled “Thalassaemia- Free Gujarat & India.” His encouragement infused renewed energy into the mission and reinforced the organization's commitment to scaling its impact. Flagship Initiative Project 'Life' adopted the village of Ghed Bagasara in 2018 and has been regularly conducting Thalassaemia screening test and awareness programs. This ongoing effort has become a successful model for village level prevention, with no Thalassaemia minor cases reported in the past couple of years. Further strengthening this mission, Project 'Life' has received generous support from Mrs. Rika & Mr. Manu Shah of California, USA, through their Shah Happiness Foundation, which has pledged to sponsor 30,000 Thalassaemia screening tests annually. Building on this support, Project 'Life' has launched a pilot project in Nichi Mandal village, Morbi District. A large scale awareness and prevention campaign was officially inaugurated on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, focusing on educating the community about Thalassaemia, the importance of screening, preventive measures and initiated the Thalassaemia screening test. Partner Charities Global Head Quarters 3 Ms. Meetal Koticha Shah Mr. Rusikesh Pandya +91 982 428 5868 savelife@999life.org www.999life.org Saurashtra Medical & Educational Charitable Trust Indian Medical Scientific Research Foundation LIFEGLOBALAUSTRALIA Estd. 2018 California Chapter Texas Chapter Dr. Bhanji Kundaria Mr. Dilip Punatar +1 805 878 4165 +1 614 440 4239 bkundaria@gmail.com punatar@hotmail.com Life Global (USA) Mr. Amar Shah +1 201 819 3321 amarshah48@gmail.com www.lifeglobal.us Mr. Sunil Koticha +1 204 890 2084 www.lifeglobal.ca skoticha@gmail.com Ms. Bina Sanghvi +44 780 115 0338 www.lifeglobal.org.uk info@lifeglobal.org.uk Dr. Dipti McGowan +61 755 510 412 www.lifeglobal.org.au info@lifeglobal.org.au California Texas California Texas California Texas Life Global UK Life Global Canada Life Global Australia Joy of Sharing In an era where modern healthcare systems are often centered on treatment, Life Thalassaemia Prevention Centre (LTPC) offers a compelling alternative - one that places prevention, awareness, and human compassion at the very heart of medicine. Established under Indian Medical Scientific Research Foundation and driven by the humanitarian vision of Project ‘Life’, LTPC stands today as a pioneering force in the global fight against Thalassaemia - one of the world's most challenging inherited blooddisorders. AVisionBeyondCure Thalassaemia is a lifelong genetic condition that requires regular blood transfusions and continuous medical care, placing immense emotional and financial burdens on affected families. Yet, it is also one of the rare disorders that is entirely preventable through early screening and education. Recognizing this powerful opportunity, LTPCwas established in 1993 with a bold and transformative vision: to create aThalassaemia freeGujarat andultimately, a Thalassaemia free India. Where ScienceMeets Social Impact LTPC's approach blends advanced medical science with deep-rooted community outreach, creating a holistic and human-centered model of care. Its initiatives include large-scale screening programs for young individuals, pre-marital and genetic counselling, antenatal and prenatal testing, and widespread public awareness campaigns through seminars, exhibitions, andgrassroots engagement. Impact that Transforms Generations Over the years, LTPC has evolved into a powerful public health movement with measurable and meaningful outcomes. More than 1.5 million individuals have been reached through awareness initiatives, while over 736,000 people have been screened and benefitted from its programs. Notably, the Centre has successfully prevented the birth of 125 children with Thalassaemia Major - each case representing not just a statistic, but a life spared and a family protected from lifelong hardship. APioneer in PreventiveHealthcare Recognized as one of Gujarat's earliest large-scale Thalassaemiapreventionandcounsellingcentres, LTPC serves as a government-recognized referral hub for prevention efforts. Its registration as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO) with India's Department of Science & Technology (DST) further underscores its commitment to combining global medical standardswithgrassroots accessibility. Padma Shri Dr. Sudhir Parikh Chairman, Life Global, NJ, USA True healthcare transformation begins when awareness reaches every individual, and prevention becomes a collective responsibility - not just amedical option. 3 Amovement that is not only saving lives, but rewriting the future of healthcare itself. Shaping a Healthier Tomorrow through Prevention, Awareness & Compassion THALASSAEMIA Since1991 Visionary leadership in action Youth United for Thalassaemia Prevention and A Healthier Generation Building A Thalassaemia free Future through Awareness, Education & Prevention With a steadfast commitment to preventive healthcare, Shri Chandrakant Koticha, Founder Executive Trustee of Project 'Life', strongly advocated for “The Mandatory Blood Testing of Persons of Marriageable Age and Newly Engaged or Married Couple Bill, 2017,” in Lok Sabha, New Delhi, and the Gujarat State Legislative Assembly. Underscoring the critical importance of early screening as a societal responsibility to eliminateThalassaemia at its roots. Support from Government of Gujarat