International Thalassemia Day is held is many countries around the world every year in May. It is a big event in Maldives and takes place over several days. 18% of Maldivians carry the thal gene and there are over 600 majors out of a population of around 300,000, so it is a big problem there. Perhaps the biggest problem is that so many patients, especially older teens and young adult males, refuse to chelate. Hopefully the introduction of Exjade which will happen soon, will alter this.