Amidst hundreds of comments under one of the posts published by the Facebook page of Kerala health minister KK Shailaja was a plea to save the life of a newborn, posted at 7.40 pm. Two hours after that comment was posted, the health minister replied — that an ambulance was on its way to shift the newborn to a speciality hospital.
Both comments are now viral on social media, and the minister is earning praise for the diligence shown in the issue.
Jiyas Madasseri commented under a post where the minister congratulated a Class 10 student who wrote the exam even while fighting cancer, and got good marks. Jiyas, a native of Edakkara in Malappuram district, wrote about the serious condition of his sister’s child’s heart. Born on Wednesday morning, the baby was born with problems in her heart valve.
“Teacher..I am writing this message because there is no other option,” Jiyas wrote.
“My younger sister gave birth to a girl child today morning, but unfortunately the baby is having some problems with her heart’s valve. As per the doctor’s instructions, we have shifted the baby from Edakkara to KIMS Al Shifa hospital in Perinthalmanna. Tests were conducted but the doctors have told us to take the baby to Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in Kochi or to Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology in Thiruvananthapuram. But when we contacted the hospital, they are saying no bed was available. Teacher.. If my child is not taken to the above said hospital, her life will be in danger. I request you to intervene to find a solution for the problem,” his comment read.
At 10.28 pm, the health minister replied to Jiyas’s comment and informed him that the baby’s treatment will be included under the government’s Hridyam project. Hridyam is an initiative of the Kerala government to support children with congenital heart disease.
“As soon as your comment was noticed, the Director of the Health Department and the coordinator of Hridyam project were directed to submit a report on the issue. The baby’s treatment can be done free of cost under the Hridyam project. Initiatives have been started to give treatment as fast as possible for the baby. The measures required for the surgery of the infant have been started at Lisie Hospital in Kochi,” she wrote.
Lisie hospital is one of the hospitals listed under the Hridyam project.
The minister also added in her comment that an ambulance was already on its way from Edapal to Perinthalmanna Hospital, where the baby was.
According to Asianet News, the baby was shifted from Malappuram to Kochi in just two hours. The baby is reportedly now on medication, and surgery will be conducted after two days.