| Despite DC's approval, family awaits medical aid | | Jaskirat only patient of PIDD in JK | |  Akshay Azad
JAMMU, Oct 25: The famous quote of Norman Cousins, "Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live", aptly elucidates the mental trauma which the hapless family of Jaskirat Singh (10) is undergoing. The kid is suffering from life threatening disease Primary Immune Deficiency Disorder (typically Burton's Hypogamaglobulinemia), which is so far considered incurable by medical science across world.
Jaskirat a resident of village Khandwal, Miran Sahib, is the lone patient of said disease across state and economically weak family has so far spent around Rs. 15 Lakhs over his treatment. He still requires injections of Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) after every three weeks, single dose (10 gm) of which costs around Rs. 22000.
Unable to bear the expenditure, the family in 2009, approached the then Deputy Commissioner Jammu, who after scrutiny of family status, recommended to Secretary, Medical Aid Committee for sanctioning aid of Rs. 20,000 per month to family.
Most astonishingly, giving a damn to DC's recommendation of March, 4, 2010, the Medical Aid Committee of Civil Secretariat has not provided any help to the hapless family, which is still bearing expenditure of treatment through charity of some philanthropists or by taking money on credit.
Narrating about Jaskirat's early childhood, his anguished father Tarvinder Singh recalls, "When Jaskirat was 3 months old, he was repeatedly attacked by Pneumonia followed by attack of multiple other diseases. We admitted him to Shalamar hospital, but his condition deteriorated following which we shifted him to DMC Ludhiana. The costly treatment at DMC, went on for around 4 and half years but ailment was not diagnosed and we shifted him to PGI Chandigarh". With wet eyes, Tarvinder further adds, "After around 2 years treatment at PGI, the disease was diagnosed and left entire family shocked. Doctors informed that Jaskirat is born without immunity and this disease is incurable but costly life saving drugs, add to life of Jaskirat".
Depressed father further says artificial immunity through injections is being given to Jaskirat. Across country there are only 200 patients and only one patient with this disorder has survived after age of 17. "As Jaskirat is growing the dose of injection would also be enhanced and the costs will go up accordingly ", he said and lamented that despite the 10 Deputy Commissioner's approval of medical aid in March 4, 2010, but Medical Aid Committee has seemingly thrown file to dustbin.
Expressing gratitude to Governor and MLC Ajay Sadotra, he said that in the last three years, he got only three injections, one from Governor's quota and two from MLC Sadotra's quota.
Jaskirat, who is very week and not able to stand after sitting, has been withdrawn from School and now family is planning to admit him in school of special children so that he will get more care. The hapless family once again appealed Government to pass directions to Medical Aid Committee to sanction the amount, so that loveable Jaskirat will get medical aid. |
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