Polio fighter loses battle for life

Ankit had been waiting for her mother to respond while he sat next to her in the ICU ward of Lok Nayak Hospital. For past week, the 16-year-old was watching her lying on the bed, but he has now lost all hope.

Ankit had been waiting for her mother to respond while he sat next to her in the ICU ward of Lok Nayak Hospital. For past week, the 16-year-old was watching her lying on the bed, but he has now lost all hope.

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His mother, Kamlesh, who was an auxiliary nurse and midwife, died on Sunday after she had stopped responding to treatment. She was working with Reproductive and Child Health programme of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

On March 25, HT had reported how Kamlesh, while giving pulse polio drops to a kid, was injured when a part of the roof collapsed on her. She suffered multiple injuries on her neck, head and spine.

“Her blood pressure had been dropping since morning. Doctors continuously gave her medications, but she did not respond to any of them. We have lost her, and with that all the hopes we had,” said a tearful Ankit.

He has an elder brother who appeared for the Class 12 boards this year. Mohan, Kamlesh’s husband, who will now be the sole breadwinner of the family, is still in a state of shock.

“I do not know what to say. I have lost her, and nothing in world can get her back to me. I am just worried about my children and their future,” said Mohan, who works as a driver in the Delhi government.

Her colleagues are now hoping that the ministry will give good compensation to Kamlesh’s family.