Drive to save Baby Malkha’s life gathers momentum

Well-wishers and charity workers are engaged in a race against time to collect almost QAR11.65mn for the treatment of five-month-old Malkha Rouhi, who is suffering from a rare disease — Type 1 Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).

The charity drive, being undertaken by family and well-wishers of the young Indian child under the aegis of Qatar Charity (QC), has so far raised QAR5.341mn and counting. Organisations, institutions, and individuals are stepping forward in support of the drive to save the little one’s life.

Those who are interested in donating to save the young child’s life can do so by clicking on this official Qatar Charity link.

Malkha has been diagnosed with SMA, which is an inherited disease that affects nerves and muscles, causing muscles to become increasingly weak. The daughter of Risal Abdul Rasheed and Nihala Nizam, Malkha is undergoing treatment at Sidra Medicine.

Qatar Charity, which has set a goal of QAR11,654,028.75 for Malkha with case number 206863 under licence LC2023QTCH07-000032, urged people to donate wholeheartedly to the cause.

“Active support from organisations and individuals can help us achieve this goal. We’re calling for all to participate in the campaign to help the ailing kid,” Khalid Abdulla Al Yafie, director of Customer Service Department at Qatar Charity, was quoted as saying by Gulf Times.

Doctors have suggested a gene replacement therapy for young Malkha, in addition to certain drugs, which are far beyond anything the family can afford.

“Our daughter needs urgent care as doctors have suggested the treatment at the earliest,” Risal was quoted as saying by Gulf Times.

Type 1 SMA is severe and causes respiratory muscle weakness and respiratory failure. Community organisations and collectives have come together to help the young family reach its improbable goal.

The Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF) and a slew of organisations have joined hands to help reach the target set to help Malkha.

Qatar Malayalees, a Facebook collective of Keralites, recently held a ‘Biriyani Challenge’ to support the cause. The Biriyanis, which were pre-ordered, were used to raise funds, and it was a roaring success. The drive raised QAR214,745 for the cause. Sponsors helped prepare the biriyani while volunteers helped distribute them.

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