Centre steps in to save Punarvika, sanctions Rs 50 lakh for Punarvika

Tirupati: The Union govt came to the rescue of 11-month-old Jampala Mangala Punarvika from Kurnool district, who was battling Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA-1), a rare and life-threatening genetic disorder. The ministry of health and family welfare released financial assistance to the tune of Rs 50 lakh under the National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD-2021) scheme.It may be recalled that Punarvika's father, Suresh Kumar, appealed to the people to help save his daughter along with the hashtag "Save Punarvika". The appeal went viral, and people from all walks of life across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana carried out a series of fundraising exercises to extend the necessary financial assistance to Punarvika's parents, in a bid to help them meet the expensive medical treatment required to revive their daughter. Nandyal TDP MP Dr Byreddy Shabari, who is a qualified medical doctor herself, also intervened and addressed a letter to the Union ministry of health and family welfare, explaining the need to extend financial assistance to Punarvika, who was suffering from spinal muscular atrophy, a rare genetic disease. Responding to the TDP MP's plea, the Union ministry of health and family welfare expressed its willingness to extend financial support up to Rs 50 lakh to Punarvika, who was suffering from a rare genetic disease, under the National Policy for Rare Diseases-2021 scheme. Dr Byreddy Shabari thanked the Union govt and minister JP Nadda for promptly responding and coming to the rescue of the minor girl, and further asserted that the NDA govt in the state will do all that was in its capacity to provide the best medical assistance for Punarvika to revive her.