Families of children undergoing treatment at BMC’s low-cost thalassemia care and bone marrow transplant centre in Borivali now have access to a newly constructed residential facility just 100 metres away. This offers vital support and convenience during the healing process following a transplant.
Inaugurated on Tuesday by BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, the ‘Home Away from Home’ facility offers accommodation, meals, and essential amenities for patients and their families.
Built on BMC land with support from Larsen & Toubro and the Access Life Assistance Foundation, the two-story building has 18 rooms, a kitchen with refrigerators and utensils, lockers, washing machines, and kid-friendly play areas.
Thalassemia is an genetic blood condition, in which the body produces an abnormally low form of haemoglobin, which impacts the body’s ability to give oxygen to its tissues. Blood transfusions are the primary treatment for more severe instances of the illness.
Track Record
The Centre has treated 1,955 children with thalassemia and 2,814 with cancer or blood disorders since its inception. It has also performed 391 bone marrow transplants since 2018, conducting an average of 60-80 transplants annually.
Among the patients is 9-year-old Usman Ansari, who depended on transfusions all his life. His family faced challenges in finding a suitable donor due to the complexity of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) compatibility, a test that identifies genetic markers to match donors. “The centre is trying to find a match for us since 2023,” said his father, Parvez Ansari.
According to Dr. Mamta Manglani, the centre fills a critical need for families who frequently travel from high-risk locations for infections and need to stay near the centre for 3-6 months post-transplant.
The new facility is expected to significantly ease the burden on families like the Ansaris, ensuring better recovery outcomes and a supportive environment during a challenging time.
