Turkey’s Bursa Uludağ University carried out an activity to leave balloons in the sky to remark the Primary Immunodeficiency Awareness month. Pointing out that early diagnosis saves lives in the organized activity, Uludağ University Pediatric Immunology and Rheumatology faculty member Prof. Dr. Sara Şebnem Kılıç Gültekin said, “This is the month of primary immunodeficiency. We organized this activity in order to announce the existence of patients with a weak immune system from birth to the society. Each balloon that we will fly soon represents one of our patients. There are 460 different types of immunodeficiency, and these patients become infected with various microorganisms and become cancer. If detected early, lives can be saved – by bone marrow transplant or immunoglobulin therapy. In treatment, they can lead their lives like normal individuals. Due to the high rate of consanguineous marriage in our country, we see immune system diseases intensely and we can diagnose these patients early in Bursa. We are able to successfully perform their treatment. In today’s program, we will be with some of our patients. We will try to make our voices heard by flying balloons.”
