A youth suffering from TB in a city-based slum and previously working as a singer in an orchestra group is now fighting for life. As a last ditch effort, the poor youth has mortgaged his only house to other people to get money for treatment.
As per information, Chintamani Dip, a resident of Ghunghutipada, was quite a happy man just a few months back. His sweet cum sonorous voice was an added attraction and he has lots of fans not just in Sambalpur but all over the State. He was a successful orchestra artist.
But luck took a different turn when it was found that he was suffering from TB. And the disease was in advanced stage. He had no father and mother since long. His only sister also died a few months back. The neighbours and distant relatives took him to the district headquarters hospital at Sambalpur and later he was shifted to Burla.
But those relatives who attended Chintamani at Burla hospital couldn’t do so for long as they are daily labourers. It became difficult for them to stay in the hospital and attend this patient. Hence, they brought Chintamani back to home and continued his treatment. But a difference was marked on treatment at a hospital and treatment from home. The result is that Chintamani’s condition further deteriorated. The neighbours couldn’t bring him to Burla again as without attendant, treatment is totally impossible in VSSIMSAR.
All these apart, Chintamani like any other artist of the State is not capable to meet the medical expenditure since all medicines are not available in the Government hospitals, including in VISSIMAR. Financial problem emerged as an added problem for him. Hence, as the last means, the young man had no other way than to sale his only house. With the money he got from house sale, the poor lad is now getting ready for second round of treatment.
Only time can say what will happen to this poor artist. Further, Chintamani’s story also speaks volumes about the treatment pattern in Government hospitals and also the situation poor people face for treatment of major and complicated disease although many schemes are available for them.