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A little life lost due to insensitivity

Special Correspondent

Flood-hit child fails to get proper treatment for her rare disease

JAIPUR: Even the efforts of former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot could not save the life of little Rupa from the flood-affected Barmer district's Sar Ka Par village. The devastating floods, which claimed 104 lives in Barmer, were not the reason for the death of the two-year-old daughter of Jetaram Bheel.

Rupa was suffering from a rare disease, GBS (Guaadullain Barre Syndrome), which spreads from the foot to the rest of the body. Her family lives in tent No.64 at Jogasar near Airwal ever since the August floods submerged its humble dwellings.

The child was first taken to Barmer Government Hospital on September 14 and was advised to be taken to Ummed Hospital attached to the Medical College in Jodhpur. She was admitted to Ummed Hospital on September 22. When Rupa lost consciousness on September 24, the doctors asked Jetaram to get an injection costing Rs.5,000. When he failed to do so, the hospital authorities discharged the child. Her family not having a BPL (Below Poverty Line) card seemingly sealed the fate of the child.

Learning about her plight, Bhuvanesh Jain, who heads the Nehru Yuvak Kendra in Barmer, and Harish Choudhary, a local leader, made arrangements for shifting Rupa once again to Jodhpur and admit her to a private hospital there. Mr. Gehlot came across the saga of the flood-affected tribal family, now fighting the cruel destiny, during his trip to Jodhpur on October 2, Gandhi Jayanti day. He met the child in the hospital and later spoke to the Jodhpur Divisional Commissioner briefing him about the situation under which the child was discharged from Ummed Hospital.

Mr. Gehlot told the Commissioner that expert opinion was for early shifting of the girl to the Sawai Man Singh Medical College in Jaipur. He suggested that the expenses for the treatment could be met either from the flood relief funds or the Chief Minister's Life Saving Fund, started during his Chief Ministership. In between Mr.Gehlot also spoke to Ashok Pangaria, the Principal of SMS Medical College. Dr.Pangaria, a reputed neurologist, was confident that the child could be treated.

"I am pained to say that nothing was done to save the child. The Divisional Commissioner refused to ask the hospital authorities to refer the child to SMS Hospital. In the absence of an ambulance the family had to take the child by train from Jodhpur to Jaipur. I had asked someone to reach Jaipur railway station with an ambulance but the child died on the way," recalls Mr. Gehlot, as his voice cracking with emotion.

Former State Commissioner for the Disabled, Damodar Thanvi, who reached Jaipur railway station with an ambulance, took the child to the hospital, hoping against hope for her revival. At SMS Hospital the doctors tried to revive the patient but in vain.

The desolate family went back with the body of little Rupa collecting Rs.5,000 provided by Mr. Thanvi towards immediate expenses so she could have her last rites.

The Government refuted the charges when Opposition members raised the issue in the Assembly on the last day of the monsoon session.

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