Transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia in Afghanistan: current evidence amid COVID-19 and future recommendations.

However, most of thalassemia patients have limited access to regular and safe blood transfusions in Afghanistan. Transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia (TDT) is a severe form of beta thalassemia in which there is a minimal to no beta globin chain production in the body [[1]]. Without blood transfusions, thalassemia patients usually die before reaching adolescence. Illiteracy is another major problem that has hindered the treatment of thalassemia patients in the country. [Extracted from the article]