The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has announced that the Zakat Fund extended medical aid to 59 individuals in March.
The latest data from the Maldives Zakat House show that the Zakat Fund has been utilised for various purposes including healthcare, essential aid, and educational scholarships. Specifically, the Zakat Fund's medical assistance has been focused on four key areas, which included, cancer treatment, heart surgeries, organ transplants, and brain surgeries. Although USD44,000 was initially allocated for March, expenditures amounted to USD57,000, including assistance provided in February.
The statistics also show that the Zakat Fund extends emergency aid to individuals facing special circumstances, with USD1,115 allocated for such purposes in March of the previous year. In addition, USD3,000 has been directed towards covering course fees and stipends for scholarship recipients. Administrative expenses, including staff salaries, accounted for USD24,000 of the fund's disbursements.
The objective of the Maldives Zakat House is to facilitate the collection and distribution of Zakat, announce the Nisab for Zakat Al-Mal biannually, and regularly update the national registry of individuals below the poverty line.