BAJURA, JANUARY 8
He was to be taken to a better health facility in Dhangadi, but had to be brought home without treatment, thanks to lack of funds for treatment expenses.
Fourteen-year-old Bhim Thapa of Ward No 8 of Badimalika Municipality, Bajura, was taken to Achham's Bayalpata Hospital for treatment of his fractured arm, but after he was referred to Dhangadi by the hospital, his mother Hira Thapa brought him home, unable to pay for his treatment.
The teenager had fractured his left arm after falling while working in the field on Thursday. Following the accident, his mother took Bhim to the district hospital for treatment. The 14-yearold had sustained a fracture in the same arm earlier too. From the district hospital, he was referred to Achham's Bayalpata Hospital. His mother took him to Bayalpata Hospital on Friday, but the hospital too referred her to Seti Provincial Hospital in Dhangadi, citing absence of an orthopaedic expert. The boy's mother, however, couldn't afford the expense involved in taking the child to Dhangadi and brought him home.
"I had to take loan even to take him to Bayalpata Hospital, How would I take him to Dhangadi, which is why I had to bring him home," lamented the mother, in tears.
Orthopaedic expert Dr Mandip Pathak of Bayalpata Hospital is in Kathmandu in the course of some official work, and as he was not available, the hospital had referred the boy to Dhangadi for treatment.
Hira's husband Naresh Thapa married another woman and has been living with his second wife for the past 18 years. She has three sons, the eldest of whom is disabled. Bhim is the youngest son of Hira and has been studying in Grade IX at Malika Higher Secondary School. After he got injured, he has been unable to attend class. She is facing difficulty providing for her family. On top of it, the accident that left her son with a fractured arm has caused more problem.
"Let alone funding the treatment, I don't have money even for fare to Dhangadi," the mother said, appealing for help for the treatment of her child.
A version of this article appears in the print on January 9, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
