Race against time: Team work of District Women’s Hospital, Amravati and P.B.M.A’s H.V. Desai Eye Hospital, Pune helps save vision of 45 day baby girl
Pune, 26 June 2025: A team work of District Women’s Hospital, Amravati and P.B.M.A’s H.V. Desai Eye Hospital, Pune helped save the sight of a 45 year old baby girl diagnosed with Retinopathy of Prematurity ( ROP).
A baby weighing 990 grams, who had been undergoing treatment for 45 days at the Special New-born Care Unit (SNCU) of District Women’s Hospital, Amravati, was tested for Retinopathy of Prematurity on June 12. The diagnosis triggered a rush to perform eye surgery on the baby, as the surgery needed to be done within just 2 to 3 days. Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a serious eye condition in premature babies. This condition is seen in babies born before 34 weeks and weighing less than 2000 grams. If not diagnosed early, it can lead to permanent blindness.If left untreated, the retina separates from the surrounding tissues (retinal detachment). This can cause vision impairment or blindness.
But the medical condition was not the only challenge. Since the child’s parents were from a tribal community, their language was not understood by others. Not only were they in poor financial condition, they did not have the documents to qualify for government schemes, but time was of the essence. Considering the seriousness of the situation, Dr. Preeti Ingle, Head of the SNCU Department at Amravati Women’s District Hospital, immediately contacted Dr. Sucheta Kulkarni, Medical Director of P.B.M.A’s H.V. Desai Eye Hospital, and asked if she would provide free treatment. Dr. Kulkarni immediately agreed and asked to send the child to Pune immediately. However, since the parents’ financial situation was very poor, they did not even have money to even buy a travel ticket. The staff of the District Women’s Hospital started counselling the father of the baby but he was not ready due to lack of money. He was saying that his village ( Temru, Chikhaldara, Dist. Amravati ) was also very far and he did not have money to go back even there. Prakash Khadke of the district administration contacted Dr. Tilottama Wankhede, a senior officer in Melghat, and Dr. Aishwarya Wankhede of the Primary Health Center in Katkumb. They immediately helped financially and transferred an amount of Rs 5000.
On June 12, the parents missed the train scheduled for 10.45 pm departure as they were not ready. However, the staffers and administration continued their efforts and arranged for the father of the baby to travel by purchasing a ticket for June 13. They accompanied him to the station and made him sit in the train. On June 14, at 7 am, the father and the baby reached Pune station and there on, Mr. Vishnu from H.V. Desai Eye Hospital arranged for a rickshaw. The baby was operated and on the same day, Mr. Vishnu accompanied them to the railway station at 6.30 pm. After talking to the T.T, he arranged a proper and a comfortable seat and on return to Amravati District Hospital , the baby was admitted back for further treatment. Now the baby’s condition is good.
Dr. Sucheta Kulkarni, Medical Director of H.V. Desai Eye Hospital said that in this case, the baby had a more aggressive ROP. Usually, ROP requires surgery within 3 to 4 days, but when aggressive, it needs to be done within 1 to 2 days, otherwise delay can result in permanent blindness . This is why the efforts taken by Amravati District Women’s Hospital is very important. H.V. Desai Eye Hospital’s program for screening of ROP is currently running in district hospitals in Pune, Alibaug and Satara. People in remote areas often face challenges in such urgent situations, which is why we are trying to reach them and make such services available there.
