KARACHI: As part of Wishbone Day, National Institute of Child Health (NICH) Karachi celebrated the event at its premises. A large number of children struck with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), disease along with their parents also attended the event.
Wishbone Day is an international community which is creating awareness celebrated on the 6th May each year for Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), a rare genetic disorder, also known as ‘brittle bones’.
Speaking on the occasion, senior NICH Pediatricians said that Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) is a genetic disorder characterized by fragile bones that can easily break.
Children living with the disease have very fragile bones and are very prone to fractures. The disease if it untreated brings lifelong disability and even death in severe cases.
“This is a congenital disorder, meaning that OI is present at birth, and the individual will be affected by OI throughout their entire lifespan,” said NICH director Prof Jamal Raza.
“Those with OI are not only afflicted with multiple bone fractures, but can also have other medical issues, including muscle weakness; hearing loss; fatigue; joint laxity; curved bones; curvature of the spine etc.
Speakers said that OI is the result of a mutation error on a gene that is responsible for the body’s production of collagen, a fibrous protein, found in bones and other tissues.
Another speaker Assistant Professor Dr. Mohsina Ibrahim said NICH was the only hospital to provide medical and surgical treatment of OI in Sindh. All treatment is free of cost, she added.
“It’s typically present at birth, but it only develops in children who have a family history of the disease,” Dr Mohsina added.
Assistant Professor Dr Nasir Saleem Sadal said part from regular treatment; NICH is also providing surgery facility – a major part of treatment of this disease.
“Brittle bone disease can range from mild to severe. Most cases are mild, resulting in few bone fractures,” he added.
