Photo Courtesy: tripuratimes
Agartala: Dhruba Chowdhury is desperate. His 22-month-old daughter, Manashree, suffers from Spinal Muscular Atrophy. He went to Facebook on Wednesday to ask for information on hospitals that perform kidney transplants. Many observers believe he intends to sell a kidney to pay for his daughter’s life-saving treatment.
Manashree needs the gene therapy injection Zolgensma. The drug costs nearly 16 crore rupees. The treatment works best before a child turns two, and Manashree hits that milestone in just a few days. The family has raised 6 crore rupees through crowdfunding across Tripura and other areas.
The current shortfall sits at 10 crore rupees. Activist Hussain Mansuri visited the family and gave them 5 lakh rupees. A team of volunteers, organized by Banamalipur activist Raja Saha, is pushing to collect more money. They even reached out to Bollywood actor Sonu Sood for help.
The family’s public plea reflects the harsh reality of their financial situation. Experts are now debating government responsibility for catastrophic medical costs. "Access to life-saving therapies should not depend solely on a family’s ability to raise millions through crowdfunding," activists argue. The family continues to beg for donations while the public waits for a miracle.
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