Zakat Fund and Health Ministry has signed an agreement today to sponsor the bone marrow transplant of 50 thalassemia patients within the next 5 years.
An agreement has been signed today between the Zakat Fund and Health Ministry in order to sponsor bone marrow transplants of 10 thalassemia patients a year.
The agreement to sponsor bone marrow transplants of 50 thalassemia patients within the upcoming five years was signed by the State Minister of Islamic Ministry, Dr Mohamed Shujau and State Minister for Health, Aminath Shirna at the ceremony held at Islamic Centre.
Islamic Ministry stated that under this agreement, up to MVR 1 million will be granted as aid to each patient with the blood disorder for their bone marrow transplant.
While the biggest success in treatment of Thalassemia is a bone marrow transplant, the patients must be monitored and observed for a long period of time within the treatment procedures. Mandatory tests must be conducted on a regular basis and the doctor’s instructions must also be followed after the transplant.
Thalassemia patients have been sent abroad within the sponsorship of the Zakat Fund to receive bone marrow transplants previously as well. However, it was not progressed within an appropriate manner. Nevertheless, the Health Ministry stated that under this agreement signed between the Health and Islamic Ministries, the procedures for the transplant will be conducted with sound approaches.
Presently, Maldives has 659 children with thalassemia.