KOCHI: Children afflicted with hemophilia are facing a crisis with the Ernakulam District Panchayat not releasing Rs 40 lakh promised for the Haemophilia Treatment Centre under it at Aluva for prophylactic or preventive care of the patients. The centre provided prophylaxis for 11 children under the age of 10 years for a year from 2015, using the funds given by the District Panchayat. The results were very promising with a ten-fold reduction in annual bleed rate, school absenteeism, and hospital stay. There was remarkable improvement in the quality of these children’s lives because they were able to participate normally in curricular and extracurricular activities.
The parents who were tied up to the care of the children were able to go to work tension-free. The results were presented at the World Haemophilia Congress held at Orlando & American Society of Haematology meet at San Diego. “To continue prophylaxis, continued support from the District Panchayath is essential. The number of children requiring treatment has now gone up to 16 and they belong to Ernakulam district. While handing over a cheque of Rs 45 lakh for the project on March 20, 2015, the then Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had exhorted other district panchayats to follow the model set by the Ernakulam District Panchayat.
“ However, the model centre is yet to receive the funds promised thereafter by the district panchayat authorities which is hampering the project,” said Dr N Vijayakumar, medical officer in charge of the centre. District Panchayat vice-president Abdul Muthalib told DC that Rs 20 lakh had been released to the centre and more funds would be allotted. “The centre is a top priority. There will be adequate allocation for the centre in the district panchayat budget to be presented on March 15,” Mr Muthalib said.
