BSKY Gives New Lease of Life to Blood Cancer Patient, Son Expresses Gratitude to CM Naveen

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government’s Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) has provided a new lease of life to a blood cancer patient from Jajpur district. The patient’s son expressed his deepest gratitude to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

“Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik saved my mother from death”, said Sumant Kumar Sahu of Naubanka village in Jajpur district.

Sumant’s mother Snehalata Sahu (52), was suffering from fever regularly. The preliminary tests revealed that Snehalata’s hemoglobin was decreasing, so also her platelets. After consultation with medicine specialists, she underwent further medical tests. It was revealed that Snehalata had blood cancer.

Disturbed by this, her husband, who used to ran a small eatery at Singhipur haat to take care of the family, passed away in January 2021 due to a heart-stroke. All responsibilities fell on Sumant, who has two siblings. He is the eldest of the family and is studying.

With not enough money for his mother’s treatment, Sumant was quite worried. At this critical juncture, Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana came as a saviour for the distressed family. After asking the villagers, he took his mother to SUM Hospital in Bhubaneswar for treatment. At the reception desk of the hospital, he noticed a dedicated counter for BSKY. He went to the Swasthya Karmis for help.

Snehalata was admitted in the hospital. Her treatment cost was covered under BSKY Health Smart Card. She was under the treatment of Prof Priyanka Samal of the Hematology Department at the hospital. After a few rounds of chemotherapy, the doctors suggested that patient would need bone marrow transplantation. At that time, the Rs 5 lakh expense limit of BSKY smart had been exhausted. Sumant was upset about his mother’s treatment.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik came forward to help the needy family and approved the hospital for more money. The bone marrow transplant of the patient was conducted successfully.

“Now we have come home with mother. My mother is recovering well. About Rs 10 lakh rupees spent on treatment has been covered under BSKY. Chief Minister saved my mother from death. We are grateful to the Chief Minister forever”, Sumant said.