Maldives Blood Services (MBS) has reported that three out of the 14 thalassemia children who were sent abroad to seek bone marrow treatment have returned. Every year, the government sends a certain number of thalassemia children abroad for treatment.
Speaking at a programme aired on PSM News, Associate Specialist in Paediatrics of MBS Dr. Ahmed Umar stated that all the children who were scheduled to travel for treatment, funded by the Zakat House of the Maldives, has departed. This year, a total of 14 children were sent abroad, with two children returning to the Maldives after fully completing the treatment. Dr. Umar also stated that one more child will be returning within the next two weeks after completing treatment.
Furthermore, Dr. Umar sadly disclosed that one child who was sent abroad to receive treatment passed away last week. He further revealed that the remaining ten children have completed an operation and are currently undergoing additional treatment. After the bone marrow operation, the children will spend three to six months abroad for treatment.
The government aims to send a total of ten children to undergo bone marrow transplant annually. Under these efforts, the ten children who are to undergo bone marrow transplants next year have started the screening process and are completing the necessary tests to determine their health condition.
The Ministry of Health reported that currently, a total of 40 children who are eligible to undergo the transplant have been listed. Those children have compatible bone marrow donors within their respective families. Currently, there are 959 registered thalassemia patients in the Maldives, with 666 currently alive. 16.6% of the Maldivian populace are thalassemia careers, and half of the thalassemia patients reside in the Greater Male' Region.