Chief Minister K. Chandrasekar Rao’s quick response to the appeal by Nizamabad (rural) MLA Bajireddy Govardhan for financial assistance to treat class 7 student Nitheesa, who has been detected with congenital heart defect, came as a pleasant surprise.
On January 4, Ms. Nitheesa fainted during her school assembly. She was then admitted to Pragathi Hospital here. After preliminary examinations, the girl was shifted to Hope Super Speciality Hospital. Upon the advice of experts, she was referred to Yashoda Hospital in Hyderabad, where her heart disease was detected.
Doctors there told the girl’s parents, Chelimela Ramulu and Lakshmi, that they need to pay ₹40 lakh for the treatment. Upon request, the doctors said that they could start the treatment if they pay 70 per cent of the total cost in advance. It came as a bolt from the blue to the parents, and they decided to raise a small amount by selling a small piece of land they own.
Worried about the rare disease, they decided to approach the MLA for assistance. Mr. Govardhan immediately took them to the Chief Minister and apprised him of the poor financial position of Mr. Ramulu, a marginal farmer in Darpally mandal headquarters.
They met Mr. Rao on January 11 and a letter of consent was issued by the Chief Minister’s Office sanctioning ₹25 lakh for the girl’s treatment at Yashoda Hospital the following day. Mr. Govardhan handed the later to the couple at his residence here on Monday.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Govardhan thanked the Chief Minister for his swift response to his appeal. The girl’s parents expressed gratitude to Mr. Rao and Mr. Govardhan.
