Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Haleel says bone marrow transplant operations would be available in the Maldives once the Thalassemia hospital being developed becomes operational.
He said this while addressing the residents of Raa Atoll Ungoofaaru. The Minister is accompanying President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on his trip to the central atolls.
Noting that Thalassemia is a condition that many in the Maldives are suffering from, Minister Haleel said that President Muizzu is giving special priority to the care given to individuals with the condition.
He said that in the three months since the administration came into power, it had sent 5 children abroad for bone marrow transplant surgery and that the Ministry is working to expand this service under the guidance of President Muizzu.
He added that annually 10 students would be sent for bone marrow transplant surgery from the Maldives.
The Minister noted that this does not end the plans for their care and that the plans would end once the hospital dedicated to Thalassemia treatment is developed and operational.
He said that the hospital would end the practice of sending children with Thalassemia abroad for bone marrow transplant surgery and the surgical procedure would be available in the Maldives.
Minister Khaleel said before that a 72,000-square-foot land from Hulhumale' had been allocated to build the hospital and that work on the project would begin soon.
