BARIPADA:A tribal couple, hailing from Pandhda village under Triring block of Mayurbhanj district, has been running from pillar to post to seek treatment for their 7-year-old son, Sameer, who has been diagnosed with ‘Hydrocephalus’.After spending whatever he could afford for the boy’s treatment, his father Bashlas Oram (40) is looking for succour from the administration. The couple needs financial assistance for a surgery that could save the boy’s life.
“My son was born with this disorder. His head started swelling as he grew up. Now, he is unable to speak, walk or see. We consulted the doctor of a health centre in neighbouring Keonjhar district, who diagnosed the child to be suffering from ‘Hydrocephalus.’ It needs immediate cure. The doctor has suggested me to take him to a big hospital. His head continues to swell as days pass by,” said Oram.
While Oram works as a labourer, his wife Pinki is a homemaker. As Oram is the only breadwinner in the family, the couple cannot afford the treatment of their son.Not just that, ignorance and illiteracy have prevented them from seeking help of the district administration or enrol for Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram, an initiative launched under the National Health Mission.
Hydrocephalus is a condition in which fluid accumulates in the brain, typically in young children, enlarging the head and sometimes causing brain damage.“The disease is either congenital or acquired. In Sameer’s case, it is not congenital,” a doctor said.Another doctor said his treatment could be carried out if he gets the benefits of Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram.