NEW DELHI – Tension at borders of two neighboruing countries – Pakistan and India – could not bar the doctors of the rival states from joining forces to give a new lease of life to a three-year-old Afghan girl last month.
The minor patient named Hadia Nesari was suffering from chronic liver problem and under treatment in a Lahore-based hospital. An immediate liver transplant surgery was required to save her life.
Dr Huma Cheema, the paediatric hepatologist who was treating Nesari, contacted the doctors at Indraparashta Apollo Hospital in Delhi after the condition of the minor girl deteriorated.
“The young girl was admitted in a hospital in Lahore. She had contracted chronic liver disease of unknown cause,” Dr Anupam Sibal, group medical director and senior consultant, paediatric gastroenterology and hepatology, Apollo Hospital, told ThePrint.
After observing the reports, the Indian doctors suggested immediate surgery, Sibal said, adding that doctors of both sides showed vast cooperation, rekindling a hope for the minor girl’s family.
As the Afghan family was poor to pay the surgery’s cost, all the expenses for the operation was borne by Pakistani doctor Cheema. Moreover, the Indian hospital also offered the surgery at the subsidised rate after Cheema showed generosity.
“Dr Cheema suggested that we go to India for the liver transplant but we had no money. She supported us financially and we got the Indian visa within a week,” Hadia’s mother Muzhgan said.
“We have no words to thank them,” she said, adding that her daughter is alive today due to the immense efforts by the doctors of both sides.
Hadia reached Delhi on July 5 and the successful surgery was performed at the Apollo Hospital in 12 hours. The minor girls’ father, Ahmed Fawad, became her donor.
An Indian doctor said that she is doing well and her medical tests are normal. Hadia Naseri has now reached Afghanistan to her home in Mazar-i-Sharif.
In a statement, Cheema said when she asked the patient’s family to go liver transplant, they broke down due to not having resources to save the life of Hadia. “It was the time when I decided to help them out in this situation”
In a message on the eve of Independence Days of both countries, the Afghan mother has requested the both sides to end the enmity and head towards friendly relations.
