One of the most painful things for a doctor is to see a life that could have been saved coming to an end just because the patient’s family lacked enough money. This is particularly true when the patient is a child, including when the child suffers from curable cancer.

While this scenario is more the norm than the exception in India, doctors at the Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital in Rajastan has stepped up with an initiative which would help tackle the issue.

The initiative called “Donate a life” instituted by the doctors has earned widespread appreciation from civil society on the recent World Cancer Day- and for good reasons. For the fund which is the doctors’ brainchild has already amassed Rs.2.13 crore which goes into covering the total cost of treatment- from medicines to investigation to hospital stay and doctor’s consultation.

“If an innocent child whose cancer is eminently treatable, succumbs to the disease only for want of money, it would be a blot on society. It should shake our conscience,” said S.G.Kabra, the hospital’s Director(Clinical Services). He also said that a cured child could lead a normal and productive life thereby becoming an asset to society.

“Donate a life” is aimed at children below the age of 14 who suffer from three types of curable blood cancers- acute promylocytic leukemia, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and leukemia low risk.

According to pediatric oncologist Upendra Sharma, the children who respond to internationally approved chemotherapy protocols are encouraged to get back to their studies and also sports. “Donate a life” was established in 2014, and since then 38 kids have been declared cancer free. 14 children are under treatment currently.

Image credits: thehindu.com

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