Dubai: A desperate father said he urgently needs over Dh100,000 in medical bills for his baby daughter born with perforated intestines.
Indian expat Shahid Ahmad said Noora was born at a Sharjah hospital on June 19 with “intestinal rupture”.
The 36-year-old salesman said he cannot afford to clear unpaid and ongoing medical bills as he only earns about Dh5,000 a month.
Ahmad added that four hospitals in Sharjah and Dubai were unable to treat Noora because there was no room or paediatric surgeon available.
Noora was eventually admitted “critically sick” in intensive care at Dubai’s Zulekha Hospital where her treatment has cost more than Dh104,000, according to documents shown by Ahmad.
Though her condition has improved, she still needs another surgery and three to four weeks’ treatment at hospital, the medical papers say.
Every day is costing about Dh2,500 in hospital bills, Ahmad added.
“I never used to ask even a dirham from anyone. I used to give charity to others. But I have fallen on hard times,” he said.
“It’s difficult for me to even look at my daughter because when I see her it reminds me how helpless I am to get her out of this.”
Noora is the couple’s first-born after five years of marriage, Ahmad said.
He added that his daughter’s insurance provider has said they cannot cover the medical expenses as she was born with the condition.
Ahmad said he has paid already paid Dh40,000 so far – Dh30,000 at Zulekha and Dh10,000 at the Sharjah hospital where she was born.
“I’ve spent all my savings, I’ve nothing left now. I want to appeal for help for my daughter’s sake. I don’t know what else to do,” Ahmad added.
He said that he needs about Dh110,000 – around Dh75,000 in unpaid charges plus about Dh35,000 in expected bills.
