A NEW campaign to reduce the numbers of people suffering unnecessarily from ‘Celtic Mutation’ disease was launched last week ahead of today’s National Haemochromatosis Awareness Day.
Hereditary Haemochromatosis is an iron overload disorder that causes people to absorb excessive amounts of dietary iron. This excess absorption may in time lead to serious organ damage.
The genetic condition is especially prevalent among the Irish – hence the ‘Celtic Mutation’ moniker.
Health Minister Simon Harris has joined forces with world rowing champion Niall O’Toole – who has the genetic disorder – and Dublin GAA star Jack McCaffrey, left, to launch the new Iron Overload campaign, which seeks to raise awareness of the condition.
While Jack doesn’t have the ‘Celtic Mutation’ himself, as a final year medical student he knows all too well about Haemochromatosis and is delighted to help raise awareness.
There are information stands at shopping centres and hospitals around the country today – the full list of which can be viewed at www.haemochromatosis-ir.com.
If you have any concerns about the condition, please call the Irish Haemochromatosis Association support group at 01 873 5911.
