Five-year-old Bishal Sada from ward 1 of Goraiya of Surunga Municipality, in Saptari district, has been deprived of medical treatment due to his family’s financial hardship.

Suffering from a swollen abdomen and legs, Bishal was referred to a better-equipped hospital a week ago by Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital in Rajbiraj. However, his parents are unable to take him for further treatment. Bishal's father Lalit Sada shared that his son’s health began deteriorating after his first birthday.

“I earn just enough through labour work to feed my family of five. We couldn’t afford to take him to a hospital outside the district,” he said.

In desperation, they had initially taken Bishal to Lahan last year, where he was given basic medication. When his condition worsened again last month, they returned to the same hospital which referred him to Dharan for advanced care.

The family had managed to collect Rs6,000, all of which was spent on preliminary tests. Lalit has been staying at his in-laws’ house in ward 3 of Shambhunath Municipality in the district trying in vain to gather more funds. “We’ve already spent everything and all we own is a small 17-dhur [287.84 sq metres] plot of land,” he said.

Bishal's mother, Lalita Devi, tearfully pleaded for help, saying, “My son is in pain, unable to even get out of bed. We just want to save him.” Dr Prakash Sah, Medical Superintendent at Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital, confirmed the boy was referred due to complications including fluid in the abdomen and possible liver issues, which require intensive care facilities which are not available at Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital.