Chamba: Two minor brothers diagnosed with rare Metachromatic Leukodystrophy, family seeks govt help

DHARMASALA: Two minor brothers in Chamba district have been diagnosed with a rare disease called Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD).

The father of the children is unemployed and the family has been seeking state government's help for boys' treatment for the past one year.

Gaurav Kumar (10) and his younger brother Saurav Kumar (7) of Pangi area were diagnosed with MLD at Dr RPGMC at Tanda.

This disease is said to be incurable and there has been no effective treatment available for this across the world.

A social outfit named Himachal Bachao Manch (HBM) has come forward to assist the poor family. The family hasn't received any financial help from the state government so far.

“It is only after the intervention of some social workers that I am willing to live to save my children,” Bittu Ram (31), the father of the boys said.

SS Guleria, the president of HBM said that they had approached authorities at various platforms but saddest part is that no one from the government has come forward to even look into the reason behind the disease in the state.

“We are giving them financial assistance. Doctors generally suggest three years of life once the disease is diagnosed in a patient,” he said.

As per the records, Bittu Ram's elder son was diagnosed with the disease in August 2017. In May 2019 his younger son too was found to be suffering from MLD.

“Patient is living is a miserable life, body is stiff and he can’t move. We are going to submit a memorandum to the President of India for help,” said Guleria.

When contacted, principal of Dr RPGMC said that he can’t speak much on the issue at the moment as things are under consideration in this regard.

State health minister Vipin Singh Parmar said that he would provide help to the family and send a team of doctors to identify the reasons behind the disease.