President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has said that a special allowance for thalassaemia children will be included in next year's budget.

President Dr. Muizzu made the statement answering a question asked by parent of a differently-abled child from N. Atoll on 'Raees ge Javaabu' programme.

He was also asked about the introduction of the allowance for thalassaemia children promised by the President, in addition to expressing concern over the lack of services for people with disabilities from atoll hospitals and the lack of education for children with disabilities in atolls.

Replying to questions, President Dr. Muizzu said that there was no provision in this year's budget for the allowance for thalassaemia children, but it would be given next year and as promised, bone marrow transplants would now be done free of cost.

"Now their bone marrow transplant is free of cost. It has started as promised. The process of setting up a thalassemia hospital will also go on as planned. The incentives will also be made available in the next year's budget at the earliest," he said.

He said all atoll hospitals would have specialised doctors to treat people with disabilities, therapy services, physiotherapy and psychiatrists, and there was a need to find people with special training.

"That's why I have decided to do it. It will be done in all atolls as soon as possible at the atoll hospital. I plan to start services in as many hospitals as possible this year," he said.

Replying to a question on concern over the lack of education for differently-abled children in atolls, he said the government's priority was to start SEN classes in schools and create a conducive environment for the differently-abled children.

"It is something that has been mentioned in our manifesto. It also requires a lot of effort. There are really no teachers, there should be special education, training for that, the teachers who care for such children. So, we have started working on it to train teachers in the field," he said.

He added that facilities should also be set up in schools exclusively for differently-abled children and work has already started and the results will be shown soon.