Tribune News Network
Doha
Sidra Medicine, a member of Qatar Foundation, successfully administered a life-saving medication for Malkha Rouhi, a baby diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).
The treatment, which offers hope for children with the severe and rare genetic disease, was made possible through the generous fundraising efforts of Qatar Charity and the broader community in Qatar.
Dr Tawfeg Ben-Omran, division chief of Genetic and Genomic Medicine at Sidra Medicine, said: “We are honoured by the trust placed in us by Malkha’s family. Her groundbreaking gene therapy is an example of the power of collaboration between healthcare institutions, Qatar Charity and the community. We are proud that our life-saving treatments can provide a new chance for children facing such devastating diagnoses.”
Sidra Medicine is the only hospital in Qatar equipped to provide groundbreaking gene therapy for SMA, an inherited neuromuscular disorder that affects nerves and muscles, causing muscles weakness, breathing and swallowing difficulties.
The treatment, which has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for SMA patients, underscores Sidra Medicine’s commitment to delivering world-class healthcare and offering cutting-edge genetic therapies for rare diseases.
Dr Khalid Ibrahim, senior attending paediatric neurologist at Sidra Medicine, said: “It is a privilege to be part of the team that administered Malkha’s infusion. We have successfully administered the medication to nearly 50 babies with SMA at our hospital. These patients have come to us from across the Middle Eastand have been part of a comprehensive SMA management programme that Sidra Medicine established in 2022.”
Ahmad Yousef Fakhroo, CEO’s assistant for the Resources Development and Communication sector at Qatar Charity, said: “We are honoured to have contributed to providing baby Malkha Rouhi with a life-saving treatment to combat SMA, thanks to the overwhelming support from our community and partners. This successful treatment exemplifies the incredible impact we can achieve when we come together for a common cause.”
Malkha’s parents Risal Abdul Rasheed and Nihala Nizam said, “Words cannot express the generosity and kindness of the people in Qatar, Qatar Charity and the wonderful medical team at Sidra Medicine. Alhamdulilah that we were able to have this life-saving treatment for our baby. Thanks to the support of Qatar Charity, we were able to raise the funds in such a short amount of time. We want to acknowledge the community, for supporting us financially and emotionally, in this journey.”
Malkha was administered Zolgensma, a lifesaving drug made by Novartis for treating SMA. Sidra Medicine has been appointed as the lead treatment centre in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to administer the medication by Novartis.
The successful treatment of Malkha Rouhi reinforces Sidra Medicine’s position as a leader in paediatric care for genetic diseases. By collaborating with international institutions and investing in cutting-edge technologies, Sidra Medicine is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to patients in Qatar.
