April 22-29, 2013 marks World Primary Immunodeficiency Week. This was observed by conducting an International CME program on PID at KIMS, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. April 29 is World Immunology Day (WID) observed by global PI community; on the occasion, a WID awareness program was organized by Indian Patients Society for Primary Immunodeficiency - IPSPI jointly with Department  Pediatrics, KIMS at KIIT International School, Bhubaneswar.

The program was attended by 300 students and teachers. Short quiz on PID was conducted after the lectures and presentation and prizes were distributed to the winners. This was followed by distribution of pamphlets on 10 warning signs of PID.

Ruby Chawla and Rakesh Chawla had lost their two sons at the age of 4 and 10 and their third son was diagnosed at an early age with PID-Brutons Agammaglobulinemia / XLA. They took the initiative of forming IPSPI, a common forum nationwide for PID sufferers. Their son and likewise other PID children are leading a near normal life attending schools and colleges by timely diagnosis and regular treatment of Intravenous Immunoglobulin-IVIg therapy.

IPSPI appreciates the international organizations – Jeffrey Modell Foundation – JMF & IPOPI for their support for the awareness programs conducted nationwide.

Rubby Chawla, founder and president, IPSPI stated that 60 percent of PIDs can be easily diagnosed with simple and inexpensive blood tests, but it remains widely under diagnosed in India. Professor Aswini Kumar Mohanty, H.O.D., Dept. of Pediatrics & Vice-Principal, KIMS added that adequate testing facilities for diagnosis should be made available & KIMS is soon coming up with the diagnostic facility for PID. Rakesh Chawla, co-founder and co-ordinator, IPSPI stressed that early diagnosis and treatment can save PID patients.

Ruby Chawla further stated that effective treatments should be made available as a basic human right. Government should provide Immunoglobulins to PID patients at subsidized rates.