DUBAI: A 46-year-old man says he’s dying but cannot go home as banks won’t let him leave the country until he clears his dues.
Rais Aghia Sikandar, who suffered complications after heart surgery, told XPRESS, “I will die if it goes on like this. My condition has worsened in the last three years after my heart surgery. Fluids collect in my abdomen and now water has started oozing out of my navel. Even doctors are not treating me anymore as they say my heart is too weak.
“I want to go to India for treatment, but cannot exit the country as banks have filed cases against me,” he added.
Until eight years ago, Sikander had tailoring shops with 40 people working for him. Business losses led to closure of his shops and all attempts to find work failed.
“That time he suffered a stroke and we spent all our savings for his treatment,” said his wife Nusrat.
“We have been living on charity for more than two years now. The bank dues have been accumulating and two banks have filed cases,” she added, saying Sikandar’s state is so bad he cannot even walk, leave alone work.
According to her, one bank has filed a case for Dh20,000 and another for Dh35,000 and they also owe money to other banks. “The debts are accumulating interest. In total we owe around Dh 150,000 to banks,” Nusrat told XPRESS.
With Sikander being the sole breadwinner, his family, including two children, have been living on charity for over two years.
Complications
According to Nusrat, he developed health complications after a coronary artery bypass surgery in March 2011 and developed ascites which led to fluid collection in his abdominal cavity, shortness of breath and difficulty in performing routine chores.
In the last three months his condition has deteriorated and the family is now desperate to go back to India.
“His heart is not functioning properly. Due to the complication, he has excessive fluid retention. When he came to us, he had developed an umbilical ulcer and the fluid was oozing out. We are treating him for the wound but he needs to be treated properly for the cardio problem,” said Dr Alia from the general surgery department of Dubai Hospital.
Sikandar was admitted to hospital last week after developing an umbilical ulcer due to which fluid started oozing from his navel.
Weak heart
A cardiologist, who treated Sikandar earlier, told XPRESS. “To stop fluid retention, his heart needs to be treated, but it is too weak. Also, until the ulcer is healed, there is not much that can be done. It is a situation where maintaining his health condition is the best thing that medics can do,” said the doctor who wished to remain anonymous.
Hassan, a social worker who is helping the family, said: “He must go back to his home country if he is to get treated. The doctors are not willing to treat his heart condition as they said he is too weak for that.”
Nusrat said they are fast losing hope. “His condition is deteriorating. The only way out may be to go to India. Doctors have told us they can only give medication for his wound but are not willing to go ahead for the heart.
“We do not have money for food, we cannot repay the debt and we cannot get him treated,” said Nusrat.
If you wish to help Sikandar, write to editor@xpress4me.com
