3 Children of a Poor Family suffer from Sickle Cell Disease

By Rakesh Gupta: Gopal Harijan of Bangapali village under Pujariguda Panchayat in Nabarangpur district, a student of Class X was treated at the District Headquarter Hospital, Nabarangpur. It has been revealed that he is suffering from Sickle-cell disease (SCD), which is a group of genetically passed down blood disorders. The most common type of this disease is known as sickle-cell anaemia (SCA).

Gopal is not the only one in the family to suffer from sickle cell. His two elder sisters Devaki and Chandrakala are also suffering from sickle cell. Harishchandra Harijan (50) and Padma Harijan (45) are the residents of Bangapali village in Nabarangpur district. They have six children – 4 daughters and 2 sons.

The sickle-cell disease may prevent through vaccination and antibiotics, high fluid intake, folic acid supplementation, and pain medication. Other measures may include blood transfusion, and the medication hydroxycarbamide (hydroxyurea). A small proportion of people can be cured by a transplant of bone marrow cells.

Harischandra is Ganja addict person and does not contribute anything to the family. He has rather become a liability. Padma is the only breadwinner of the family. She works as a labourer in nearby village. Padma finds it difficult to arrange food, clothes, medicine and blood for her three children, who are suffering from sickle cell disease.

The ill-fated family has received a house under Indira Awas Yojana, a BPL ration card. They are also getting Rs 300 per month assistance from the government for Devaki and Chandrakala. But, this is still not enough. While talking to Odisha News Insight, Gopal reveals that he is hesitant to go to school, as he does not have uniform, books or notebooks.

Padma had appealed to the District Administration as well as concerned citizens to help her family in arranging medicine and blood for her SCD affected children and taking care of the educational needs of her son.