Eleven-year-old Fatema has a large hole in her heart in Manikchhari, and her advanced treatment is stalled for lack of money

At an age when she should be going to school and playing with children her own age, 11-year-old Fatema Akter is spending her days in a hospital bed. A large hole has been detected in her heart. Doctors have advised advanced treatment quickly. But her father, Bashir Uddin, cannot afford that treatment for his daughter. He is now spending his days with her at the Manikchhari Upazila Health Complex in Khagrachhari.

Fatema lives with her family in a house at the Ashrayan project in the Hajipara area of Manikchhari upazila in Khagrachhari. Her father Bashir Uddin is a painter by profession. But as a heart patient himself, he cannot work regularly; he has also suffered two strokes. The family has no land, and the household runs amid uncertainty. In such a situation, raising the cost of his daughter's expensive treatment has become nearly impossible for him.

On Saturday (31 October), a visit to the upazila health complex found Bashir Uddin sitting beside his daughter as she received treatment, anxiety on his face and a plea to save his daughter.

Bashir Uddin said the hole in Fatema's heart was detected in 2016, shortly after her birth. Doctors then advised continuing regular medication. They had also said there was a possibility the hole would close with medicine. But because of the money crisis, he could not continue his daughter's medication regularly.

Bashir Uddin said: "In the last week of October, I admitted Fatema to the cardiology department of Chattogram Medical College Hospital. After tests, the doctors said the hole in her heart had become larger. They told me to admit her to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases quickly for advanced treatment. But I have no money to raise the cost of that treatment. So I have kept my daughter admitted at the upazila hospital."

Bashir Uddin also said: "I am a heart patient myself. I have had two strokes. Among my two daughters and one son, Fatema is the middle child. The elder daughter is at her husband's home. At home are my wife, Fatema and my younger son. Although I work as a painter, I cannot work regularly because of illness. I am asking people for help to save my daughter."

Parbon Chakma, a doctor at Manikchhari Upazila Health Complex, said: "There is no cardiologist here. Fatema has been referred from Chattogram Medical College Hospital to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases for advanced treatment. But the guardian cannot take her there because of the money crisis. Diagnostic tests have confirmed a large hole in her heart. For now, injections are being given in the morning and afternoon following the Chattogram Medical College Hospital prescription. It is urgent to admit her to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases very quickly."

Bashir Uddin has appealed to everyone for financial help to save his daughter. According to the doctor, Fatema needs financial assistance quickly, because the sooner she can be admitted to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, the sooner her urgently needed advanced treatment can begin.