Three Bangladeshi citizens suffering from a serious condition of muscular dystrophy today reached Mumbai for a free treatment.
The patients and three persons accompanying them took this evening's Air India flight from Kolkata to Mumbai and will also return by an Air India flight after the treatment - entirely free of any charges, according to a statement.
AI773 took off from Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport with the six Bangladesh nationals amongst other passengers - bringing a ray of hope to the patients suffering from a rare medical condition called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
The patients identified as Abdus, Rahinul and Shorab, aged 24, 14 and 8 respectively, were diagnosed with this crippling disease after their birth.
It grabbed attention when their family pleaded with the Bangladesh Government for mercy killing of the three for failing to continue with their treatment due to financial reasons.
It was Meditourz - a Mumbai-based organisation specialising in such diseases in collaboration with NeuroGen - a Brain and Spine Institute based at Navi Mumbai flashed a beacon of hope for the patients.
Dr Alok Sharma, a renowned neurosurgeon who specialises in treatment for neurological disorders, offered free treatment to these patients at his hospital and research centre NeoroGen. A request was made to Air India and CMD Ashwani Lohani immediately offered support to fly the patients with their companions free of charge to Mumbai and back.
"We wish to think Air India for its kind gesture of arranging the air travel for three patients from Bangladesh and their family to come to NeuroGen Institute for treatment and for their return after initial treatment," said Dr Sharma.
Earlier, the Bangladesh Government and the Bangladesh Human Rights Group had pitched in to ensure that they got Visas and documents to travel to India for the treatment.
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