Kerala SSM appeals for info on cancer-affected kids

Kozhikode: All is not lost for children of poor families suffering from cancer. The Kerala Social Security Mission (KSSM) is ready to extend a helping hand to such children and has appealed to the public to inform it of cases needing assistance.

Its intervention followed the tragic case of Sai Sri, 13, of Vijayawada, who succumbed to bone marrow cancer after her father refused to treat her.  Shetty Sivakumar, the father,  was living separate from his wife Suma, and he declined the appeal of Sai Sri to find money for her treatment even by selling the house in her name. Her mother had sent the video of the girl’s appeal to the father through WhatsApp which became viral.

“We  posted the appeal on the social media after the Sai Sri tragedy shocked the people.  Within a few days,  we have received seven cases for aid,” said KSSM executive director Dr. Mohammad Asheel.

‘Cancer Suraksha Scheme,’ the KSSM’s project to treat financially poor children,  was launched in 2008 and more than 500 children have  benefited from it so far.  

“Children under the age of 18 could be treated in empanelled hospitals which include all government medical colleges, Regional Cancer Centre (RCC), Malabar Cancer Centre (MCC) and Ernakulam general hospital. The entire cost of treatment, including that of investigations, would be borne by the hospitals through the funds provided by the KSSM. The ceiling of expenditure per child would be initially Rs 2,00,000. However, the hospital can incur additional expenditure, based on the report of the committee comprising oncologist and others,” Mr Asheel said. However, children of state/central/PSU employees are not eligible. Last year, Rs 9 crore was utilised under the scheme.