Kareem Karassery

President, Blood Patients Protection Council, Kerala, India

Kareem Karassery is a dedicated social worker from Kerala, India, with over 30 years of advocacy for patients with blood disorders, including thalassemia, hemophilia, sickle cell anemia, aplastic anemia, and leukemia. Motivated by his personal experience as a father of two children with thalassemia, he founded the Blood Patients Protection Council (BPPC) to promote access to life-saving treatment, prevention, and patient rights.

He also helped establish the Childhood Cancer Society and Malabar THAS Society, collaborating with healthcare professionals and community leaders. As secretary, he has led medical education programs, free vaccination drives, medical camps, MRI T2* screenings, awareness initiatives, and national-level training for healthcare workers and families.

Kareem currently serves on the national governing board of the Federation of Blood Donor Organizations of India (FBDOI) and previously held a leadership role with the Federation of Indian Thalassemics (FIT). He also contributes as an advisory board member on a York University-led project addressing sickle cell anemia in India and Nepal.

He has presented at international conferences and continues to organize annual health awareness events and initiatives, including a statewide HLA typing program supporting bone marrow transplants.