News Desk
MALE’ — In a significant humanitarian effort, six children diagnosed with thalassemia have departed for India to undergo bone marrow transplant surgeries. The complex, life-saving procedures are being fully supported by the Maldives Zakat Fund, providing essential medical care to families who lack the financial means to cover the high costs of treatment.
According to the Zakat House, this group marks the first cohort of thalassemia patients to travel abroad for this specific treatment this year. Plans are already underway to facilitate the departure of an additional four children once the necessary administrative processes are finalised.
The departure was marked by a special ceremony attended by Minister of Health Geela Ali, the Zakat House officials and senior officials from the Male City Group of Hospitals (MCGH) and the Thalassemia Centre.
To ensure the sustainability of this support, the Zakat House transferred MVR 2.5 million to the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) last month. This funding aligns with 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 a consistent pillar of support for such medical interventions, having provided assistance for bone marrow transplants dating back to 2014.
Thalassemia is a hereditary blood disorder that typically necessitates lifelong blood transfusions and ongoing medical management. A bone marrow transplant serves as the only permanent cure, replacing the patient’s diseased marrow with healthy stem cells from a compatible donor. A successful transplant allows patients to cease regular blood transfusions, significantly improving their quality of life and sparing them from the long-term complications associated with the disease.
A total of ten children have successfully completed the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) donor matching process and received clearance to travel for treatment this year. While the first six have now departed, preparations are in the final stages for the remaining four children to be sent to empaneled hospitals in India under the Aasandha health insurance scheme.
The impact of this initiative is profound. Since 2024, the Zakat Fund has directly invested over MVR 23 million to ensure that all eligible children receive this life-saving treatment, reflecting a dedicated national commitment to safeguarding the health and future of the country’s most vulnerable young patients.