Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Feb 20: Fortunes can swiftly change the course of one's life. However, good fortune that knocks at one's doors when the family is in dire need of funds, makes the people forget their woes and become eternally thankful to the God.
In a strange incident, a 14-month-old child from Bhatkal was facing a peculiar disease. The child was fighting for its life and the doctors had said that a sum of Rs 16 crore would be needed to treat the child. At a time when the family needed money badly, the family won a lottery and therefore could afford the child's treatment.
Fatima, the 14-month-old daughter of Mobammad Besil and Kahdeeja couple from Bhatkal, was suffering from muscle-related ailment. From January this year, the child is being treated in Baptist Hospital here. After she was provided with zolgensma treatment, Fatima's condition has improved. She also was provided with genes treatment.
The girl needed a lot of money for treatment. At this time, the girl has won a lottery. Leading pharmaceutical company, Novartis, has come forward to provide money to treat the child. The hospital, which said that only very rich persons can afford this treatment, estimated that the cost of the girl's treatment would be about Rs 16 crore. This was stated by the chief executive officer of the hospital, Naveen Thomas. Naveen said that children face problems linked to muscles because of the problems with veins. This might be caused because of certain defects found in either of the parents. Naveen said that 38 children lost their lives last year because of this ailment.
The child's father said that after the treatment, there is improvement in the condition of Fatima and she is able to move her legs. However, it will take a few days for her to become normal.
Zolgensma and genes are treatments that only rich can afford. For the first time, this treatment was provided at Baptist Hospital in Karnataka, thanks to humane initiative undertaken by Novartis. Well-known child neurologist, Dr Ann Agnes Mathew, said that this is a rare disease. She said that about 200 children are being treated at the Baptist Hospital.