Damascus, June 24 (SANA) Syria’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday aimed at restoring and expanding pediatric bone marrow transplant services in the country.
The agreement focuses on reactivating bone marrow transplantation and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation services for children at al-Hayat Center at the Children’s Hospital in Damascus. The agreement also will lay the groundwork for a sustainable national pediatric transplant program.
According to the Ministry, the memorandum will remain in effect for 12 months and will cover the implementation phase of the project.
The initiative follows discussions held in May between Higher Education Minister Marwan al-Halabi and SAMS Board Chairman Dr. Luay Alkotob on expanding cooperation in the healthcare sector and supporting the development of teaching hospitals in Syria.
Those talks addressed several healthcare projects, including the rehabilitation of a hematology department, the installation of a modern catheterization unit at Al-Mouwasat University Hospital and the launch of a pediatric bone marrow transplant program at the Children’s University Hospital.
Officials said the project is intended to strengthen access to specialized medical services for children requiring advanced treatment.
Founded in 1998 by Syrian-American physicians, SAMS is a nonprofit humanitarian medical organization that provides healthcare services and medical education programs in Syria and neighboring countries, with a focus on communities affected by humanitarian crises.
F.J./ABD
