Malda Thalassaemia Patients Promised Free Blood Transfusion

Ray of hope after death wish

Prithvijit Mitra & Subhro Maitra | tnn

Kolkata/Malda: Driven to desperation by poverty and an incurable disease — thalassaemia — that afflicts all four members of his family, Saidur Rehman of Malda decided to seek mercy killing. In a letter to chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Rehman had said that as neither the state nor he could bear the expenses of treatment, they should be allowed mercy killing rather than made to die a slow and painful death. That was four months ago.
Now, the farm labourer is clinging on to fresh hope. He is ready to withdraw his appeal and make a new beginning, thanks to assurances of help that have eventually come through. While the district administration has assured him of free blood transfusion and transport, a research organisation and a charitable institution have arranged for treatment of the family.
Forty-year-old Saidur, his wife Marjina Bibi (35) and their children Mostakim Rehman and Mamoni Khatun, aged 12 and eight years, respectively, will arrive in Kolkata later this month.
“We had visited Malda for a cancer treatment and awareness camp in December when we came across the family. All four of them needed treatment urgently but couldn’t afford it. We have made arrangements for their treatment at our hospital and they will be provided with free medicines by a trust. Saidur has been asked to reach Kolkata by the end of February,” said Ashish Mukhopadhyay, director, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Cancer Research Institute.
The letter written to the chief minister had moved government officials but action was painfully slow. Even though Saidur was forced to stop visiting the district hospital for transfusion as he couldn’t even afford the bus fare, nothing was done. Things started moving in January after a letter from Writers’ Buildings reached the district magistrate, seeking to know what has been done to help the family. It was passed on to the BDO of Bamongola, Anjan Ghosh, who has been in touch with the family. “We have provided them with free passes for bus travel. Arrangements have also been finalised for free transfusion and a certificate that entitles them to it. But we are yet not aware of the family’s plans to go to Kolkata for treatment,” said Ghosh.
Residents of Samsabad village under Bamongola block, 40 km from Malda town, Rehman and his family are expected in Kolkata next week. “We had done a few primary examinations in Malda last month. We need a thorough investigation but it is clear that two of them, including Saidur, were suffering from beta thalassaemia while the other two had e-beta thalassaemia. We are planning to do a splenectomy to reduce their need for transfusion but a final decision will be taken after they are admitted to the hospital,” said Mukhopadhyay.
Local MLA Khagen Murmu claimed he had contacted Saidur after he sought euthanasia. But the family never got back to him for help or assistance. “I had arranged for their free blood transfusion but they stopped visiting the hospital. If they couldn’t afford to travel, they could have told me so. It is not possible to provide financial help but we could have worked out something,” said Murmu.
In his letter to the chief minister, Saidur had written that even though he knew it was against the law to commit or ask for death, he wanted the permission as he couldn’t bear the cost of treating his wife and children.
Saidur sent copies of the appeal to the district magistrate, block development officer and the chief medical officer of health.