Amit waits for relief as he battles haemophilia

Family looks at court to raise Rs 1 crore for treatment

Thirty-six-year-old Amit Ahuja entered his 63rd day at his ward in Lok Nayak Hospital on Thursday. The haemophilic patient’s family is fighting a legal battle to raise Rs 1 crore for his treatment.

“Amit was diagnosed with haemophilia when he was nine months old. It is so difficult to see my son gradually bleed to death,” said Kamal Ahuja, Amit’s mother.

“We do not have the means to support his treatment anymore,” the resident of Hari Nagar in West Delhi added. 

Amit’s father runs a small-scale business of rubber chemicals. He is the sole earning member of the family.

Currently, doctors at the hospital have estimated the cost of medicines to be Rs 1 crore, which can improve Amit’s condition. The medicines are not available for free in Delhi government hospitals.

For Amit, lying down as ‘a straight line’, has turned into a nightmare.

“I cannot even turn on my sides. It was over three months back that I woke up with pain in my joint. Since then my condition has only deteriorated,” said Amit, who is bedridden since 2010.

Amit met with an accident in 1997, following which, his left leg had to be amputated. “I used to run a telephone booth from home. In spite of the irregularities in my health, I led a normal life. If funds are not released, there is not much hope now,” said Amit, lying on his bed in ward number 32.

Lying down for so long has also given Amit bed sores. A tumour on his right thigh burst, which has added to his pain.    

“Each dose of the drug that Amit needs to stop bleeding costs Rs 45,000. The hospital’s head haematologist has said Amit needs this medication for 41 days continuously for improvement in his condition. We are desperate for funds to save him,” said Pooja, Amit’s sister.

After Amit was admitted to the hospital on January 23, he was given this ‘dose of drug’ once for five days and the other time for three days, she added.  Earlier, the family had also taken Amit to Kanpur, Lucknow and Agra for free dose of the drug. 

“Even then it was so difficult for him to travel via road. The slightest jerks would aggravate his pain. Ice-packs, painkillers would hardly work,” added Pooja, who is shuttling between the hospital and the court for the past few days.

The High Court had earlier directed the Centre and the Delhi government to see if there are possibilities of releasing money from any relief fund. “We hope the relief order comes soon. We cannot see Amit dying due to lack of funds,” said Pooja.