Kolkata: Twenty-seven-year-old Rima Begum, a resident of Chittagong, Bangladesh, was diagnosed with leukemia (blood cancer) almost a year ago. Rima had lost all hope of undergoing the bone marrow transplant recommended by doctors in Bangladesh.
“Lack of resources was the primary reason. We didn’t have enough funds for the life-saving treatment,” recounts Shafiqul Islam, Rima’s husband. He adds, “I was devastated when I learned that my wife had leukemia and needed a bone marrow transplant. We decided to come to Kolkata for the treatment, but we were clueless about how to make the necessary arrangements.”
Despite the odds, they began searching for healthcare facilitators who could guide them toward proper treatment. That’s when they came across GlobalMedin India Healthcare Private Company, which helps Bangladeshi citizens access healthcare facilities in India.
“We immediately contacted MedInIndia officials, who were very approachable. When we explained our financial crisis, the company’s partners helped us secure the best medical treatment, logistics, and medication. They not only raised funds to support my wife’s bone marrow transplant but also guided us throughout the five months we spent in Kolkata,” Islam shared.
Rubayat Kadir, Managing Director of MedInIndia, elaborated, “We realized that they needed immediate help to save Rima. Honestly, we were just a few months old as a company when Shafiqul approached us. We are committed to helping those in need of medical treatment in India. When they shared their case with us, we initiated a crowdfunding campaign. Contributions from people in Bangladesh and India covered 50% of the total treatment cost. For the remaining 50%, MedInIndia stepped in to assist. Dr. Joydeep Chakrabartty, a top haemato-oncologist and bone marrow transplant expert, successfully performed the transplant at AMRI, Kolkata.”
Rima remains deeply grateful to her saviors. “We stayed in Kolkata for five months for the complete treatment. The company not only helped us secure appointments, meet doctors, undergo tests, and obtain medicines at discounted prices, but they also assisted us in renting an apartment for the recovery period. I successfully underwent the bone marrow transplant at AMRI and have now returned to Chittagong, healthy and grateful,” said Rima.
