3 survivors fight on
Three surviving schoolboys of the Mirsarai tragedy are still wrestling with the odds at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH).
Of the three, Raihan Uddin Shuvo and Nayan Shil are suffering from fungal meningitis, a serious infectious illness which affects the brain and spinal cord. The other survivor Jewel Barua suffers from pain in his head, hip and chest and cannot bend his head down, said doctors.
They were injured when a truck loaded with football fans turned turtle in a roadside water-filled ditch in Mirsarai of Chittagong on July 11.
Prof Dr Rezaul Karim, head of the department of child health, said Shuvo is not responding to the drugs. "Fungal meningitis is a very rare disease in our country,” he said.
Dr Tania Yasmin said the illness causes the outer part of the brain to swell. "He is not still out of danger but we are trying to provide him the best treatment here," she added.
"Shuvo can not eat properly, his body temperature has been very high since the day of the accident, has pain all over his body and is losing weight," said Shuvo's mother Fatema Begum at CMCH on August 23.
Meanwhile, in addition to meningitis, Nayan lost his eyesight. Dr Tanima Roy, the on-duty physician of the NeuroMedicine ward, said a heavy jerk on the head pushed a pool of blood to the eyes, consequently damaging both retinas.
He also suffered a mild stroke right after the accident, she added.
Head of CMCH pediatric surgery department Prof Dr Tahmina Banu yesterday said there are culture tests available in India to determine the type of bacteria responsible for the illness so that the proper medicine can be administered.
CMCH Director Brigadier Gen Mustafizur Rahman said Shuvo is to be referred to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital for better treatment.
Nayan and Jewel would be continued to be looked after at the hospital until their condition improves, said doctors.
Meanwhile, Shuvo's father Sultan Ahmed said the local administration is not providing any more financial assistance.
Mirsarai upazila Awami League lawmaker Engineer Mosharraf Hossain visited Shuvo at the hospital and assured them of assistance, he said.
Nayan's mother Nileema Shil said Nayan is the only male member of the family as his father passed away when he was two years old. She sought financial assistance from the local administration for his treatment abroad.
Jewel's aunt Suchitra Barua said Jewel's condition is deteriorating day by day. She too urged the government to take necessary steps for their better treatment abroad.
All three are students of Abu Torab Bahumukhi High School with Shuvo studying in class seven while Nayan and Jewel in class eight.
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