Mumbai, Nov 16: When the staff of JJ Hospital were gearing up for the cyclone last week, 55-year-old Lalji Pandey and his son Shailesh were wondering whether they could afford another trip to the city.
Pandey, nursing a bullet injury in his arm from last year’s 26/11 attack at CST, had arrived at the hospital from Pune to get his still-swollen wound treated. He was sent back because of the cyclone alert, and told to come back next week.
“We are used to such delays. Despite doctors’ assurances that I could return for treatment even after my discharge, they took three months to re-admit me for an operation. Now the rods in my hand have caused a painful infection but they’ve asked me to go back,” said Pandey.
Pandey is one of several 26/11 victims who have grown used to repeated trips to JJ Hospital, long waits and rescheduled appointments with doctors. And, with many of their wounds still to heal, joblessness is a serious concern.
Pandey, for example, lost two jobs in the family to 26/11 – his own at a paint-shop where he worked for 20 years and that of his son Shailesh, an auto-rickshaw driver who was also at CST when terrorists struck, and who lost his driving licence.
In Solapur, Shabbir Dalal (48) has been bedridden since he was discharged in January; an unhealed bullet injury in his leg still hurts. “Doctors at JJ tell me to visit every month but rather than admitting me, they examine my injury, prescribe painkillers and then send me back. On my visit last month, they admitted me for a couple of days and then sent me back. Every visit costs me Rs 2,000-3,000,” said Dalal, a now unemployed vegetable vendor with a wife and four daughters to fend for.
Bharat Shyam Nawadia, who sells garments door to door, lost his wife at CST and took a bullet in his shoulder, is being supported by brother Ravi. “We kept requesting JJ doctors to admit him as, even after discharge, he couldn’t even lift his shoulder. The doctor told us he will never be able to use his shoulder again as the bones have been shattered,” said Ravi. Nawadia was finally operated on, but discharged in three days.
A doctor at JJ’s orthopaedic department conceded Dalal and Nawadia’s cases are serious, and assured they have been called in next week. “Delays in admission are inevitable owing to the shortage of anaesthetists and CCU beds. But we try and treat bullets victim on priority.”.
Some victims, unwilling to accept the alleged apathy by the government hospital, have stopped visiting. “I went back to JJ once after my discharge but they asked me to come back later, next week, then next month,” said Manoj Kanojia (36), whose hand remains swollen after two bullets hit his palm.
A laundry owner before 26/11, Kanojia had his thumb shattered and can no longer use a steam iron. “Eventually I decided that instead of wasting time pleading with doctors, I should look for a job,” he said. He is still searching.
–Agencies