Six children with thalassaemia are set to travel to India for bone marrow transplants with financial assistance from the Zakat Fund.
The group is the first batch of thalassaemia patients to leave the Maldives for the treatment this year.
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Health, Family and Welfare Minister Geela Ali, Director General of the Maldives Zakat House, Imthithaau Abbas, and Male’ City Group of Hospitals (MCGH) Chief Executive Officer, Ibrahim Abdul Razzaq Haleem, attended a ceremony held before the patients’ departure.
During the ceremony, officials briefed parents on the importance of the treatment programme and the financial assistance being provided through the Zakat Fund.
According to the Maldives Zakat House, MVR 2.5 million was transferred to the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) last month to cover the treatment costs of eligible children. The assistance is provided under a memorandum of understanding signed between the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and the Ministry of Health on 21 February 2024.
The Zakat Fund has been providing financial assistance for bone marrow transplants since 2014.
Bone marrow transplantation is the only permanent treatment for thalassaemia that eliminates the need for regular blood transfusions. The procedure can significantly improve patients’ quality of life and reduce long-term complications associated with the condition.
A total of 10 children have been approved for treatment this year. Administrative arrangements are currently underway for the remaining four children, who will travel in a later group.
