Malkangiri: An orphan Class VIII tribal girl of Gorakhunta project UP school under Korukunda block who is battling for life after suffering from a deadly disease, Friday pleaded with the administration to bring back headmaster Narayan Nayak.
Nayak, who has been facilitating medicines for critically ill Ambika Jani, was transferred in August. Not only the local sarpanch and the member of school managing committee, but more than 200 students of the school also urged the collector and local MLA to bring back the teacher as all of them badly needed his presence.
Meanwhile, Ambika is in a critical stage and living with her uncle and aunt at the Block Colony in Mathili.
Ambika’s father Brunda died when she was in the womb and she lost her mother Radha seven days after her birth. Brunda’s younger brother Jagannath brought her up who got married when Ambika was 5 years. Soon after the marriage, the couple adopted her as their own daughter.
Ambika was very good in her studies and other extra-curricular activities. However, luck didn’t smile on her after September 16, 2016, when she suddenly developed rashes on her face and suffered from itching on her body. Though, the body wounds healed after treatment at the district headquarters hospital, the sore on her face and inside her mouth showed no improvement.
Her blood sample was sent to Mumbai for investigation which revealed she was suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune disease which is seen in every 1,000 persons.
She has to take medicines life-long to keep the disease under control, the doctors said.
Though Ambika kept taking medicines for a month, she didn’t recover. Moreover, her condition deteriorated with the swelling of her neck and face.
Meanwhile, school headmaster Nayak took the responsibility of her treatment and she recovered to an extent after being administered daily doses of nine injections and some medicines. She was undergoing treatment in consultation with renowned expert Dr Bidyut Das of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack through video-conferencing. Ambika even went on to perform a dance number during school’s annual function in March after her recovery.
However, transfer of HM Nayak disrupted the proper provision of medicines for the girl and left her in a critical stage. The sarpanch said, respecting the sentiment of the villagers and the students, he requested the district education officer, collector and the MLA to bring back the teacher. The situation would slip out of the hand if prompt action is not taken by the administration, he added. PNN
