KARACHI, July 2: The Child Aid Association, National Institute of Child Health have jointly appealed President Gen Pervez Musharraf to grant Rs30 million from his special fund to make operational the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at the NICH.

In a letter, CAA-NICH President Prof Nizamul Hasan stated that the association had constructed and furnished the Oncology/ BMT unit, along with a state-of-art laboratory in 1998, with the support of philanthropists.

The Oncology Unit was made operational in April, 1999, and till date more than 1,000 children suffering from various types of cancers, had been registered at the unit, he added.

"Every month, over 150 patients get free investigations, including CT Scan, MRI and chemotherapy, costing the CAA Rs0.8 million. These patients made over 500 visits every month to the outpatient department," he stated, adding that the association had spent another Rs15 million on the installation of clean filtered air-conditioning unit and other sophisticated equipment at the BMT Unit, which was now ready to take patients.

Prof Nizam said that the BMT Unit was now a recognized modality for treatment of cancer and other blood diseases, and such facilities cost over Rs10 million abroad, excluding the cost of travel and lodging.

"We have estimated that each BMT is expected to cost Rs1 million, and it will be first such facility for children in the country at a public sector institution that will help poor patients," he added. -PPI