After a prolonged wait of three months, the Kerala government has finally stepped in to ensure financial assistance for a young girl from Palakkad who lost her right hand due to alleged medical negligence. The state has issued an order to include the child, Vinodhini, under the sponsorship scheme of the women and child development department, paving the way for her to receive a prosthetic arm.
A Long-Awaited Government Intervention
The decision came after Opposition leader V D Satheesan actively intervened and promised to fund the prosthetic arm himself, citing a lack of positive response from the government. According to Satheesan, Vinodhini was brought from Palakkad to Kochi's Amrita Hospital on Saturday morning. There, all necessary tests were completed, and crucial measurements for the advanced prosthetic arm, which must be ordered from abroad, were taken.
"The full payment required by the agency manufacturing the prosthetic arm was made this morning," Satheesan stated. He added that the prosthetic arm is expected to be ready within two weeks, and follow-up examinations after fitting should be completed within a maximum of three weeks.
The Tragic Incident and Alleged Negligence
The chain of events began on September 24 last year when Vinodhini, a Class IV student, fractured her right arm after a fall while playing with her brother. She was first taken to the Palakkad District Hospital. Her parents, R Vinod and Praseetha, who are daily wage workers from Pallassana, alleged that doctors there failed to properly treat a small open wound that accompanied the fracture.
Her condition deteriorated over the following days, forcing her family to rush her to the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital. There, doctors delivered the devastating news: the damage was irreversible, and amputation of her right hand was necessary. The procedure was carried out in October. Following the incident, two doctors from the Palakkad District Hospital were suspended.
Financial Support and a Family's Struggle
In the aftermath, the family alleged they received no further support from the government for the critical prosthetic arm. While a sum of Rs 2 lakh was sanctioned from the chief minister's relief fund, arranging for the specialized prosthetic remained a daunting challenge for the daily wage-earning parents.
Recognizing the urgent need, the government has now included Vinodhini's name in the sponsorship scheme under Mission Vatsalya and granted formal approval. The required amount for the prosthetic arm will be provided from the Child Fund. This move brings a ray of hope to Vinodhini and her family, ending months of uncertainty and struggle for justice and essential medical aid.
