Qatar provides life-saving treatment that costs $3m to Lebanese child
Four-year-old Chris El Kik, who suffered from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, undergoes treatment at Sidra
Published: 29 June 2024
NT Bureau
Doha
Qatar has provided life-saving treatment for a Lebanese child with a rare disease, with the treatment costing a staggering $3 million.
Four-year-old Chris El Kik from Lebanon successfully received the treatment for a rare muscular dystrophy condition in Doha and this remarkable development is the culmination of coordinated efforts between the Qatari and Lebanese governments, alongside an outpouring of public support.
Chris El Kik suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a severe inherited disorder characterized by progressive muscle weakness that ultimately affects mobility. This condition, which is fatal and typically claims the lives of patients by their twenties, requires an expensive treatment costing approximately $3 million.
Chris’s remarkable journey to a second life began in April when Lebanon’s Minister of Social Affairs, Hector Hajjar, announced collaborative efforts with Qatari authorities to obtain the necessary medical care for Chris. At the time, the treatment was unavailable in Qatar, prompting extensive bilateral efforts to make it possible.
On June 25, after months of hard work, Chris received the much-needed treatment at Sidra Medicine in Doha. This milestone was marked by a joint statement from Minister Hajjar, and the Qatari ambassador, and the Lebanese ambassador, confirming the successful intervention.
“This process required five months of dedicated work between Qatari and Lebanese authorities to secure the treatment,” said Minister Hajjar. He extended his gratitude to Qatar’s Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, for their vital humanitarian support that provided Chris with “a new opportunity for a brighter future.”
Chris’s plight gained widespread attention in January when his family launched an online fundraising campaign to cover the staggering costs of his treatment. The campaign went viral, drawing support from around the world. Duchenne muscular dystrophy affects fewer than 10 out of every 100,000 people globally, with symptoms typically emerging between ages two and three. The disease severely impacts the ability to jump, run, and walk, making early treatment crucial.
“Thank you, Qatar, and everyone who made our presence here possible,” the El Kik family wrote in a video on social media. “We are immensely grateful to all who supported us during this challenging period.”
