Kerala infant for whom people raised crores of rupees succumbs to rare disease
Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 21: A six-month-old Keralite infant, who was battling Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and was undergoing treatment since birth, succumbed to the rare genetic disorder in northern Kozhikode district despite a large amount raised for his treatment.
Imran, son of Arif, an autorickshaw driver hailing from Perinthalmanna in Malappuram district, breathed his last on Tuesday night at the Kozhikode government medical college, where he had been under treatment since the 17th day of his birth, family sources said.
His death came days after over some crores of rupees had been raised through crowdfunding by generous people to purchase Zolgensma Onasemnogene injection, one of the most expensive medicines in the world, for his treatment.
One dose of the injection costs Rs 18 crore.
Imran's family was struggling to raise the rest of the amount to import the medicine from abroad but was hopeful that they could make it somehow soon.
The Kerala High Court also recently directed to set up a five-member medical board to examine Imran based on the plea of his father seeking free treatment.
The infant's father had moved the high court earlier this month seeking free treatment for his son as the medicine costs around Rs 18 crore and he had no means to raise that kind of money.
He had approached the court claiming that he cannot ensure his son's treatment without the support of the state government.
The state government, in a statement filed in court, however, said that neither the Health Department nor the Kerala Social Security Mission (KSSM) was in a position to extend financial support for bearing the huge cost of the treatment/ medicine required by Arif's son who was on ventilator support.
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
