Archive for category Bone Marrow Transplantation
Cure2Children at the Annual Congress of the European Bone Marrow Transplantation Society
Posted by Lawrence Faulkner in Bone Marrow Transplantation, Pakistan, Press, Projects, Thalassemia on March 25th, 2010
by Lawrence Faulkner
It was a great pleasure to present what we are doing at one of the most important international scientific conferences.
In December 2009, a summary of the results from the network supported by Cure2Children for the treatment of thalassemia in Pakistan, was subject to evaluation by a commission from the European group for Bone Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), which considers the relevance to the professional community and the acceptance for presentation at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the European Society of Bone Marrow Transplantation in Vienna, held March 21 to 24. This success is very important not only for the official recognition of our activity, but also to strengthen the network of professional collaborations. This congress is a reference point for scientific associations and professionals from around the world including the Middle East and Asia.
Amongst the relevant advances that emerged from the conference, is the increasing use of therapies derived from bone marrow transplantation (cell therapy) that can contribute to more effective treatment of leukemia while reducing toxicity, and the ability to perform transplant procedures more tolerably. Progress in the area for the use of alternative family donors (e.g. the mother) gives hope that this opportunity can be extended to contexts with more limited resources and technologies. Currently, in fact, in most low income realities, a transplant is only performed from a compatible brother or sister, which excludes a large proportion of children who could benefit and who do not have a compatible donor in the family.
Another important piece of data emerged from a report by the Middle Eastern bone marrow transplant group (EMBMT), is the severe shortage of facilities able to provide care for many serious illnesses of children in the region that stretches from North Africa to Pakistan. In fact, in relation to population size, the number of centers for bone marrow transplantation are less than one fortieth of those existing in western Europe or North America.
In conclusion, I’m very happy with the direction in which we are investing the efforts of Cure2Children and those of our donors, and also that an increasing number of professionals are collaborating with us.
First anniversary of the “Simone Montomoli” Bone Marrow Transplant Unit @PIMS in Islamabad
Posted by Saira Faisal in Bone Marrow Transplantation, Pakistan, Thalassemia on March 15th, 2010
by Saira Faisal
The organization that saved the lives of many people in Pakistan celebrated its success and first anniversary at the Islamabad Club on 22nd January, 2010. The anniversary frequented by high society of Pakistan and broadcasted live by the top media channels proved to be a well organized and delightful gathering.
For celebrating the first anniversary and the success of Cure2Chidren foundation in its true essence, there could be no better guests than the families and children who have been cured by Cure2Chidren . In addition to them, his Excellency, Vincenzo Prati, the Ambassador from Italy; Mr. Qamar Zaman Kaira, Minister of Information; The managing director of Bait-ul-maI, Mr. Zamurd Khan, other well known doctors and many high society people were also present.
Dr. Sadaf & Dr. Naila enlightened the guests on the role Cure2Chidren has played in the lives of its patients and in making thalessemia a curable disease for the poor people in Pakistan. Various pictures were shown on the multimedia and the guests were told about the care Cure2Chidren has given to its patients. Cure2Chidren has performed total 22 transplants in which 16 were fully sponsored and 6 were partially sponsored. On this great achievement, the chief guests; Ambassador Italy, Mr. Zamurd Khan & Mr. Qaira Praised the whole team of Cure2Chidren and appreciated the efforts and life changing concept. The Ambassador expressed his views on the success of achieving these extraordinary goals. He promised his full support and committed to help in obtaining all kind of possible help. The head of Bait-ul-Mal, Mr. Zamurd Khan committed to donate 5 lac Rs (5882 USD ) to every C2C patient in Pakistan and gave away cheques of 30 thousand Rs (353 USD) to each family of the cured children. Mr. Qaira while appreciating the enormous efforts behind this noble cause promised his full support and committed to raising Cure2Chidren to higher levels in Pakistan, with the support from President and Prime Minister.
Few other doctors, Including Dr. Tahir Shamsi from Karachi expressed their heartfelt appreciation for Cure2Chidren Italy and Dr. Faulkner for taking the initiative for such a remarkable cause. They expressed keen interest in the growth of Cure2Chidren in Pakistan and future collaboration with Cure2Chidren .
In the end Dr. Faulkner praised the whole team of Cure2Chidren Pakistan and the efforts they have made to complete all the major goals in about a year’s time. He expressed his deep satisfaction and joy attained because of the excellent results shown by Cure2Chidren Pakistan. Towards the end of the event were given different gifts to the C2C cured children. These gifts were sponsored by Cure2Chidren while presented to the families by the chief guests. With the end of the gathering began the great beginning of achieving miracles.
First anniversary of the “Simone Montomoli” Bone Marrow Transplant Unit @PIMS in Islamabad
Posted by Lawrence Faulkner in Bone Marrow Transplantation, Pakistan, Thalassemia on January 28th, 2010
By Lawrence Faulkner
(photo) As always, Sadaf and Khalid and the whole team did a wonderful job in Islamabad. The ceremony for the commemoration of the first anniversary of the ”Simone Montonoli” Unit for “bone marrow transplantation” took place at the Islamabad Club on 22 January 2010, a beautiful complex frequented by the high society of Pakistan.
In addition to most of the children cured that have come from all over Pakistan with their families, doctors and nurses of the bone marrow transplant unit, there were also about 200 guests including the Minister for Information and Telecommunications Qamar Zaman Kaira, the member of the Standing Committee Rubina Qamikani, the Managing Director of Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal, Zamurrud Khan and the Executive Director of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Dr. Ghazala Mahmood. Also present were the Italian Ambassador Vincenzo Prati, the Romanian Ambassador Emilian Ion and representatives of the Swiss and Czech Republic Embassies. Sara Rezoagli, the Italian Deputy Head of Mission who arrived form Kabul a few days ago also particpated. The Bangladesh Ambassador, unfortunately couldn’t make it.
The various authorities and the doctors took it in turns on stage, then it was the turn of the children, who delivered a composition to Cure2Children, and in turn they received gifts from the authorities. Zamurrud Khan gave EACH INDIVIDUAL family a check for 30,000 rupees. Many representative from the media were present and the event was broadcast live on major networks. I am very satisfied, the results were excellent and we are very proud to have been able to announce that after just one year, we have been able to achieve important goals, that is to say that the local teams have performed a large number of transplants (23) with results comparable to those obtained Italy but with a tenth of the cost, this gives us real hope that the system can become self sufficient in a short time.
Ambassador Prati has been very supportive and is committed to help in obtaining government funding in the context of a debt conversion agreement between the Pakistani and Italian governments. The Head of Bait-ul-Mal, is committed to sustain a good portion of the expenditure for the next 50 transplants (500,000 rupees per child) and to support us in our future initiatives in Pakistan.
It’s an enormous satisfaction both personal and professional, and it has been an honor to work with all these people eager to demonstrate that in their beautiful country a lot can be abtaind with little. Thanks to all those who have believed in Cure2Children and who have supported us, this is’ just the beginning!
FAQ: how to cure Thalassemia with Bone Marrow Transplantation
Posted by Eugenio La Mesa in Bone Marrow Transplantation, Thalassemia on January 25th, 2010
by Eugenio La Mesa
Thalassemia has been curable through Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT) for the last 30 years. Cure2Children has been performing BMT in Pakistan since January 2009, and are planning to begin in India and also in Bangladesh together with Noble Prize Prof. Yunus and his Grameen Health Care.
We are constantly asked by people for information about BMT, so we have prepared these FAQ’s compiled by
- Lawrence Faulkner, Cure2Children Scientific Coordinator
- Dr.Pietro Sodani, Consultant Hematologist and BMT expert, member of the Cure2Children Advisory Board