1,000 thalassemia children get second chance at life through stem cell transplants
New Delhi: A significant medical milestone has been achieved in India as the Sankalp India Foundation, along with international non-profit DKMS and medical partner Cure2Children Foundation, completed 1,000 stem cell transplants for children suffering from thalassemia. The announcement was made on September 4, marking a moment of hope for thousands of families battling this genetic blood disorder.
Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that reduces the body's ability to produce haemoglobin, leading to severe anaemia. Children with severe forms of the disease require regular blood transfusions to survive, often leading to iron overload that can damage vital organs such as the heart and liver. A stem cell transplant remains the only curative treatment available for many patients.
Among the beneficiaries is Muhammad Shaheem, a 17-year-old from Karnataka, who was diagnosed with severe thalassemia at just five months old. For years, blood transfusions were a routine part of his life. However, the repeated transfusions caused severe iron accumulation, making a transplant particularly risky. His younger sister, Zara, aged 7, was found to be a full Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-matched donor, offering a glimmer of hope.
After extensive preparation and counselling at the Sankalp-Bhagwan Mahavir Jain Hospital in Bengaluru, the family decided to proceed with the transplant. Zareena, the mother of Shaheem, who herself lives with thalassemia major, said, "I continue to undergo treatment and regular blood transfusions. Though it was a difficult decision to make in my son's case, it has ultimately given my son a second chance for a better life without being troubled much by the disease."
Shaheem is one of 1,000 children who have successfully undergone paediatric stem cell transplants with support from Sankalp India Foundation, DKMS, and Cure2Children. The procedure is both complex and costly, with treatment expenses in India ranging from ₹12 lakh to ₹40 lakh. DKMS has supported transplantation costs for more than 820 children, while Sankalp provides care to over 3,000 children through 30 thalassemia day-care centres across the country. The organisation also operates paediatric bone marrow transplant centres in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad.
Highlighting the significance of this achievement, Rajat Kumar Agarwal, president of Sankalp India Foundation, said, "For us, these 1,000 transplants are 1,000 beginnings and proof that cure can be made accessible when organisations combine their strengths with a shared purpose. It shows how centres in resource-constrained settings can still achieve success in medicine and internationally recognised quality while keeping transplantation affordable and accessible."
Thalassemia is a major public health challenge in India, with an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 children born with the condition every year. The success of these transplants demonstrates that with collaborative effort, advanced medical care can be made available even in resource-limited settings. This milestone not only offers hope to families affected by thalassemia but also serves as a model for treating other life-threatening conditions in developing countries.
The journey, however, is not without challenges. Early diagnosis, access to HLA-matched donors, and affordability remain critical barriers for many patients. Organisations like Sankalp and DKMS continue to work towards expanding their reach and reducing the financial burden on families. For the 1,000 children and their families, this achievement marks the beginning of a new, healthier life.
