*Jaydip Chakrabarti
Abhijit, when is translated into English implies conqueror and in Hinduism, Abhijit implies an auspicious period during mid-day time.
After a boy was born to poverty-stricken Amal Chandra Biswas and his wife, Amal babu did not hesitate but named the newborn baby as Abhijit hoping to conquer poverty and bring sparkling future. Abhijit was born in an obscure Sardhucharra under Teliamura in Tripura. Like other kids of the village, Abhijit too was enrolled in Kushaitilla Anaganwadi Center (AWC).
One day, when Abhijit, aged 5 years at that time, along with his mother went to the AWC, they found some unknown persons in the centre, later, Abhijit came to know that these unknown persons were doctors and they came from Teliamura Hospital. Doctors conducted several tests on the AWC kids and went away.
Actually, a medical team led by Dr Alok Debnath and Dr Sanghamitra Das from the Teliamura Hospital went to the AWC for conducting health screening the kids for several diseases under the Central Government Scheme, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK). Such medical teams visit hamlets and AWCs to ensure early medical intervention in case any children suffer from four ‘D’s – Defects at birth, Deficiencies, Diseases, Development delays including disability. Children from age ‘0’ to 18 years come under RBSK. The Karyakram will cover at least 30 identified health conditions for early detection, free treatment and management through dedicated mobile health teams placed in every block in the State.
After routine screening, doctors referred him to the tertiary health centre for more diagnostic tests. And it was found that Abhijit had Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) – a birth time defect. The report, in the true sense, devastated Biswas family as only a costly surgery could save the life of Abhijit. However, hapless Amal Chandra Biswas was so poor that he even could not think about coughing up a fraction of the sum. Shattered and broken, Amal Chandra Biswas and Abhijit found solace in Dr Debnath and Dr (Mrs) Das as both the doctors assured Amal Babu that there were Central Government Schemes for helpless parents to treat their children.
Similar shockwave struck Shibu Choudhury of East Hawaibari under Teliamura after he learned that his 15-year old daughter, Priya Choudhury had Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). Priya’s family was also unable to shoulder the financial burden of the treatment.
Parents of Abhijit and Priya said, medical staff held prolonged discussion and counselling with us. They detailed the RBSK and told us that we would not have to shoulder any expenditure. Doctors also told us that surgeries were a must to save our children. At last, we agreed. Abhijit And Priya underwent successful surgeries at Mission Hospital at Durgapur in West Bengal on December 4 last”.
According to Teliamura Hospital sources, both are fit and fine now.
“Abhijit, as his name suggests, conquered the disease so was Priya”, Dr Debnath said while highlighting importance of Government schemes like RBSK.
*Jaydip Chakrabarti may be contacted at jaydipsoma@gmail.com
