Hepatitis patients to benefit from Dh1.6m in Zakat Fund donations

Abu Dhabi: Seventy four hepatitis patients in the UAE are to benefit from an initiative by the Zakat fund amounting to Dh1,605,000 meant to provide them with monetary aid for their treatment.

The aid is meant to last for one year, which is the typical length of treatment most patients need, a spokesman told Gulf News. Patients that require further treatment can then reapply to the fund.

"The patients included are of varying nationalities, and reside in different parts of the UAE. We provide aid for one year, which is the standard dosage period required for these patients, after which most patients are cured," the spokesman said.

Additional aid

"Out of the 74 patients included, 70 per cent have been cured, and the remaining are almost cured as well. Those who require further treatment can reapply, and we will study the case, and determine whether to provide further aid," he added.

The Zakat fund's initiative, which is titled "Ajir w Afiya" (or "Health and Blessings" in Arabic), covers various other illnesses, besides hepatitis. However, due to a noticeable increase in hepatitis patients, a portion of the initiative was dedicated to patients of the disease in particular.

"We hope to increase our aid to include an increase in the number of patients being helped by 10 per cent," the spokesman added.

Secretary General of Zakat Fund Abdullah Bin Aqeeda Al Muhairi explained that the fund's initiative was different from other efforts, in that they remained with the patient for an entire year, throughout their treatment.

Al Muhairi called on hospitals and medical centres to cooperate with the fund.