Kidney ailment girl receives help after desperate father attempts murder

[okarol]

Kidney ailment girl receives help after desperate father attempts murder

NDTV Correspondent
Tuesday, July 10, 2007 (Bangalore)

Seven-year old Sarita has received an offer of free treatment for her kidney ailment a day after her father pushed her into a river in Jaunpur.

He is said to have done that because he could not afford the expensive treatment.

Dr Sudarshan Ballal, the director of Manipal Hospital said,''we were shocked to see this story of young Sarita...her father throwing her away because her treatment would cost Rs three lakhs''.

''My daughters were in tears and said daddy we must do something. That is when I called NDTV so that we could help,'' Ballal said.

The doctor has offered to evaluate and treat Sarita for free.

''I am in the field of nephrology and Manipal hospital has a history of helping poor families. We thought we could pool our resources together and offer free treatment,'' Ballal said.

Every year about 150 000 to 200 000 people develop severe kidney failure out of which 95 per cent die a slow painful death because like young Sarita, most of them cannot afford the treatment.

PHOTO: 7 year old Sarita

[Sluff]

So is that what it comes down to? How sick. I actually think her father was doing this more as a mercy killing, but it still  is unbelievable the way some people think.

[glitter]

I could not get this story out of my head --- the caste system being what it is....what a terrible choice to face a father.

[Sara]

How sad.  And to think there's thousands (millions?) more like her.