The Maldives Zakat House has contributed MVR 2.5 million from the Zakat Fund to support bone marrow transplant treatment for children living with thalassemia.
According to Zakat House, the funds were transferred to the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) on Monday as part of ongoing efforts to assist children requiring the life-saving procedure.
The financial assistance is provided under an agreement signed between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs on February 21, 2024, aimed at supporting bone marrow transplants for thalassemia patients through the Zakat Fund.
Bone marrow transplantation remains the only permanent treatment currently available for thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder affecting many families in the Maldives.
NSPA statistics show that financial assistance from the Zakat Fund was provided to 10 patients for bone marrow transplants last year, with total spending reaching MVR 1.51 million. The agency also supported nine patients in 2024 and five patients in 2023 through the programme.
The government’s policy is to facilitate bone marrow transplant treatment for 10 children each year, providing eligible patients with access to potentially curative treatment abroad.
