By The Health Ministry has announced that 22 children are currently on the waitlist for life-saving bone marrow transplants as part of ongoing efforts to treat children with thalassemia.
A Ministry spokesperson revealed that 14 children were sent abroad for transplants last year. Of those, seven have completed their procedures successfully and returned home, while the remaining seven are still undergoing treatment abroad. Sadly, one child has passed away following the procedure.
Three of the children still abroad are scheduled to return to the Maldives next month, while the other four are continuing treatment under close medical supervision.
As part of this initiative, six children who recently completed their transplants have arrived back in the Maldives, bringing renewed hope to their families and the community.
The Ministry also announced that preparations are underway to send 10 more children abroad for transplants this year. Five of these children have already undergone specialist reviews, and arrangements are being finalized for their treatments.
This initiative is part of President Dr. Muizzu’s vision to provide sustainable and free bone marrow transplants for children suffering from thalassemia, a key pledge of his administration.
In February last year, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and the Ministry of Health signed an agreement to allocate funds from the Zakat Fund to support bone marrow transplants. Under the agreement, MVR 1 million per child is provided for these procedures, ensuring accessibility to advanced medical care for families in need.
While these steps mark significant progress, the Health Ministry reiterated its commitment to reducing the waitlist and improving care for children affected by thalassemia.