Children Afflicted With DMD Stages Dharna For Govt Help In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Children suffering from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) on Friday staged a dharna in Bhubaneswar, seeking government assistance for their expensive treatment.

The children with DMD, a rare physical condition, staged the dharna sitting on wheelchairs at the Lower PMG. They held placards appealing to the Odisha government to extend financial assistance to meet the expesses of their medicines and treatment.

The Odisha Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Association, which has been working for the children, said though medicines for treatment of DMD are available, those come with a very high cost which cannot be afforded by many families.

“Since DMD has no cure, the families have to bear the treatment cost for their entire life. Besides draining the financial sources of the families, the ailment becomes a mental trauma for them,” said a member of the association.

According to medical experts, DMD is a severe type of muscular dystrophy that primarily affects the muscle of the boys. Muscle weakness usually begins at the age of four and worsens quickly. When the boy comes of the age of muscular activities, he fails to do so as the muscle weakness spread to thighs and pelvis and then to the arms. As a result, by the time he attains the age of 12, the boy is unable to walk.

Although there is no known cure, physical therapy, braces and surgery may help with some symptoms, they said.