President Dr Mohamed Waheed has today met with the steering committee of the Thalassemia Association. At the meeting held at the President’s Office, members of the association briefed the President on the challenges being faced in providing treatment for thalassemia patients.

Noting that every 20 out of 100 of the Maldives’ population was a thalassemia carrier, and as there were more than 500 patients who needed regular transfusion and treatment, the President said that the government gives utmost importance to the matter. The President also noted that a Thalassemia bill has now been passed and ratified.

The President said that the Thalassemia Center needed renovation, and assured that the government would facilitate easier availability of blood bank and other services.

President Waheed also shared with the members, government plans to establish a modern center in the future, in order to solve the problem that is faced by a big percentage of the Maldives’ population.