RIYADH, 15 February 2006 — A total sum of SR266,000 has been raised by the Indian community in response to the parents’ appeal for donations to help meet the cost of treatment of their two children suffering from thalassemia.
It is a rare blood disorder which causes decreased production of hemoglobin, a protein needed in the transport of oxygen in the bloodstream.
Of the amount collected by Syed Hafiz, father of Syed Danish, 13, and Mariam Syed, 10, both suffering from the blood disorder, the International Indian School Riyadh (IISR) pitched in with SR123,000 followed by the Middle East International School (MEIS) (SR106,605), Bharatiya Sangham Riyadh (SR22,700) and Yahoo Group (SR15,000).
Handing over the remittance advice of the amount deposited in the ICICI Bank to Syed Hafiz and his wife Zareen Hafiz, Tabassum Farooqi, principal of MEIS, wished their children the best of luck in the treatment of the disorder.
She said her school was earlier involved in fund-raising drive for the victims of tsunami disaster that struck India and Sri Lanka in December 2004 and earthquakes in Gujarat and Iran. “We extend help out of humanitarian consideration irrespective of the nationalities involved,” she observed.
Speaking to Arab News, Hafiz, who is self-employed, expressed his gratitude to the members of the Indian community for their noble gesture.
He said he would like to take his children to Italy, which is renowned for treatment of this type of blood disorder.
The original estimate for bone marrow transplant — the only cure for thalassemia — was put at SR170,000. Thanks to the overwhelming response of the Indian community, this amount has already been exceeded.
Members of the community point out that the parents could opt for cheaper treatment in the renowned Christian Medical College, Vellore, rather than the much costlier treatment in Italy.