Agartala, 28th September 2026 : The South Tripura District Health and Family Welfare Office has taken a special initiative to facilitate free treatment for three children from Bartila Munda Para under Bharat Chandra Nagar Block in Belonia subdivision, who have been diagnosed with congenital heart disease.
An awareness and counseling meeting was recently organised in the village, led by District Programme Officer Dr Anamika Goswami. Dr Anamika Mall and Dr Suman Das, Medical Officers of the RBSK team at Belonia Sub-divisional Hospital, Asmita Dutta, Community Health Officer of Lakshmipur Ayushman Arogya Mandir, along with ASHA and Anganwadi workers, participated in the programme. Families of the affected children, local residents and Panchayat representatives were also present.
The three children—seven-year-old Jamuna Sabar, daughter of Deepak Sabar; eight-year-old Ayushi Sabar, daughter of Liton Sabar; and 11-year-old Rinku Sabar, daughter of Lilmohan Sabar—require surgical treatment for congenital heart disease.
According to the District Health Office, Jamuna’s condition was first detected by the Belonia RBSK medical team during a routine health check-up at an Anganwadi centre in 2022. She was subsequently referred to the District Early Intervention Centre in Udaipur and then to IGM Hospital, where echocardiography confirmed the condition and doctors advised surgery. She was later examined at ILS Hospital, where surgery was again recommended, preferably outside the state.
In 2023, Ayushi and Rinku also underwent health examinations and echocardiography at IGM and ILS Hospitals, following which surgery was recommended for both.
Health officials said the entire cost of treatment would be borne by the government under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK). However, the families were initially hesitant to consent to the procedures due to a lack of awareness and apprehensions about the complex surgeries.
The Belonia RBSK team subsequently made repeated visits to the families’ homes and provided counseling. ASHA and Anganwadi workers, along with local public representatives, also maintained regular contact with the families to encourage them to proceed with the treatment.
Following sustained counseling and a recent visit by the district health team, the families finally consented to the surgeries.
The District Health Office said the three children will shortly be taken to IGM Hospital in Agartala for echocardiography and preliminary investigations. They will subsequently be referred to Apollo Hospital in Chennai for treatment at no cost under the RBSK scheme.
The South Tripura District Health and Family Welfare Office will also arrange air tickets for the children and their respective guardians, the Chief Medical Officer’s office said.
