Sultan fights for every breath

A young boy's family is torn between struggle with poverty and increasing bills for medicine needed to keep him alive.

Five-year-old Sultan has an immune deficiency disorder and requires monthly injections that his father, who holds a Comoros Islands passport, cannot afford. Antonie Robertson / The National

ABU DHABI // Each month, Sultan goes to hospital for the medicines he needs to stay alive. Each month, his family’s debt grows larger as they struggle to pay his medical bills.

The five-year-old spends 12 hours hooked up to an intravenous drip for drugs that ensure his lungs continue to work properly.

Without regular medication and care, Sultan would not be able to breathe – he would die.

However, each dose of medicines costs Dh5,000. His family now owes more than Dh160,000 – a figure that is far beyond their means.

Sultan’s condition was discovered when he became ill at five months old and he spent weeks in intensive care.

“We discovered that there was a problem and we took him to every hospital in the country,” says his father, who holds a Comoros Islands passport.

“For a young baby to stay 12 hours with a needle attached to their vein was tough, but now we are used to it. When I tell him that we are going to the hospital, he asks me if it’s time for him to sleep again.”

Sultan’s condition improved briefly and the youngster’s medication was slowly reduced, much to his family’s relief.

However, his sickness soon returned with almost fatal consequences.

“For a while my son was better, and so we thought we would start taking him to the hospital every two months instead of every month. This was a huge mistake on our part,” says his father, adding that Sultan became seriously ill and was rushed to ICU again.

“The doctor told us that we could never stop or delay the medication. My son would die without it and that the only place that provides it is their hospital.”

Sultan is treated at a Dubai government hospital, but his family does not have health insurance and cannot afford to pay for the boy’s long-term care.

“The medication costs more than half my monthly pay,” says Sultan’s father, who covers his son’s treatment with blank cheques made out to the hospital.

“I told them that I have no money in my account, but they said to just give them blank cheques so that they can admit my son.

“The money I owe increases every month and it’s not like a bill that I can pay off once and be done with it.”

The hospital has now referred his account to a debt collection company that calls him every week asking for money.

“I don’t know what to do. I don’t have this money and there is no way I can get it. My son needs the medication to survive,” says the father.

Hisham Al Zahrani, manager of zakat and social services at the Dar Al Ber society, says Sultan – who has only recently started school – will needs medication for the rest of his life. “We are asking for people to help him get his medication.”

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Here’s how you can help

Call the hotline at 0502955999, or send a WhatsApp message to the same number. Donations can be made by depositing funds in Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank account, Iban number AE9805 000 000 000 11530734 or Dubai Islamic Bank account, Iban number AE8002 4000 352 0443 1952 01. Donations go towards paying Sultan’s medical care.