Imagine losing your voice overnight, and with it, your mobility and source of livelihood? Imagine having no financial means to address the health concerns while continuing to live in peril? Such was the condition of Purba Bardhaman resident Ashraf Ali Sheikh, who spent his days in silence after a tragedy befell upon him a year ago – a sudden stroke robbed him of his ability to speak and move freely, leaving him trapped.
With no means to afford expensive medical treatment, hope was slipping away. As he suffered for a year, his family could do nothing except to helplessly watch him struggle with everyday tasks. While doctors recently discovered a dangerous blood clot in his brain that could be resolved with a complicated craniotomy, the family had no means to afford the procedure. Sheikh, who resides with his family at the Kairapur village, had a solution in sight but no path forward.
The family was desperate and out of options until someone mentioned Government of West Bengal’s Swasthya Sathi health insurance scheme. The result? A life-saving brain surgery, a full recovery, and zero financial burden on the family. His wife, Aida Sheikh, still can’t believe it. “Without the Swasthya Sathi card, we could never have afforded this surgery. My husband was unable to work for a year, but now, doctors say he will soon return to normal life,” she told journalists.
The high-stakes craniotomy procedure, led by Dr. Sirajul Islam Chowdhury, removed the clot that had Ashraf Ali Sheikh’s speech and mobility and the patient is now recovering, regaining his strength, and, most importantly, his voice. The man who once lived in silence is speaking again, thanks to a health initiative that ensured he got the care he needed without financial ruin.
“When my brother suffered a brain stroke a year ago, we took him to a private nursing home where hospital authorities told us about the brain clot. They said it would take Rs 3-4 lakh for the surgery that could give him a new chance at life. Later, we got him admitted to another hospital and used the Swasthya Sathi card to get the surgery done. The operation was successful and my brother is doing much better now. This was only possible because of Mamata Banerjee’s Swasthya Sathi card,” said the patient’s brother Hashmat Ali, adding that he hopes the scheme benefits more and more people across Bengal.
Stories like Sheikh’s highlight the life-changing impact of accessible healthcare. His journey is proof that the right medical support can turn a tragedy into a second chance at life.
👉 Know someone struggling to afford critical medical treatment? This story proves that hope—and help—is out there.
