Six Maldivian children suffering from thalassemia are set to depart for India to undergo bone marrow transplant procedures, fully funded by the Maldives Zakat Fund. This initiative supports families who otherwise lack the financial means to afford the life-saving treatment.

A special ceremony was held today to mark the departure of the first batch of patients for 2026. Officials confirmed that an additional four children will follow once their administrative and medical documentation is finalized. The event was attended by Minister of Health, Family, and Welfare Geela Ali, Director General of Maldives Zakat House Al-Sheikh Imthidhaau Abbas, and CEO of Male’ City Group of Hospitals Ibrahim Abdul Razzaq Haleem.

In June, the Maldives Zakat House transferred MVR 2.5 million to the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) to facilitate these procedures. This funding is part of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and the Ministry of Health in February 2026. Since 2024, the Zakat Fund has dedicated over MVR 23 million toward bone marrow transplants for eligible patients.

Thalassemia is a hereditary blood disorder requiring lifelong transfusions. Bone marrow transplantation remains the only permanent cure, utilizing stem cells from a compatible donor to restore the body’s ability to produce healthy blood cells. The government aims to facilitate treatment for a total of ten children at Aasandha-empanelled hospitals in India by the end of 2026.