One Hope Charity sponsored the cost of the Haploidentical BMT Chimerism Test worth RM69,307 to the University of Malaya Medical Centre to assist doctors in monitoring the progress of bone marrow transplant patients. If the test detects an abnormality during the patient's recovery process, the doctor can provide treatment in the shortest time possible.

One Hope Charity & Welfare chairman Dato' Chua Sui Hau said that the organisation had recently received many requests for help from patients with leukaemia, genetic disorders, autoimmune diseases and other diseases who need bone marrow or stem cell transplantation to continue to survive.

"However, these patients must be observed for some time after successful transplant surgery. During this period, they must undergo the chimerism test to ensure that the bone marrow or stem cells transplanted into their body are functioning. If the doctors detect any abnormality, the patient needs to receive treatment as soon as possible to avoid recurrence."

Chairman Dato' Chua Sui Hau recently led a team to the University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). They visited the Division of Paediatric Haematology-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, as well as the Paediatric Oncology Laboratory. Dato' Chua also handed over a mock cheque of RM69,307 to the Head of the Division, Prof. Hany Ariffin.

After the transplantation, the medical personnel can detect the activity at a specific time point through the chimerism test, which includes the stability of the stem cells' growth, signs of rejection, and the possibility of recurrence. Therefore, this test serves as a guide for clinical doctors to monitor the progress of their patient's recovery and determine if the patient needs further intervention to ensure the success of the transplant surgery.

Since 1987, the University of Malaya Medical Centre's Paediatric Bone Marrow Transplantation Division has completed transplants for 520 children with different diseases. Since the division performed its first Haploidentical BMT on a baby in 2016, it has conducted a similar transplantation on more than 50 children.



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