CHANDIGARH/BATHINDA, April 26:
The first cry should bring relief. But sometimes, it brings silence instead. At Aggarwal Hospital in Rampura Phul, District Bathinda, a newborn had already arrived; but the fight for life had just begun.
Born at just 33 weeks, the baby of Resham Singh and Gurmail Kaur entered the world too early, too fragile. Weighing only 1.926 kg, far below the normal full-term weight of around 2.5 to 4 kg, the newborn struggled from the very first breath. Severe respiratory distress meant that breathing was not possible without medical support. Inside the hospital, there was no time to lose.
Dr. Surender Aggarwal (MD Pediatric), with 24 years of experience, and his team acted immediately. The baby was shifted to the NICU, where machines supported what the underdeveloped lungs could not yet perform. Monitors tracked every heartbeat and every breath, each moment uncertain, each moment critical.
What followed were 17 days of continuous care, patience, and precision. The newborn required CPAP support for 10 days, followed by oxygen support for another four days. During this period, neonatal jaundice developed and was treated with phototherapy. Feeding was carefully supported through limited Kangaroo Mother Care, ensuring warmth and stability without disturbing the baby’s fragile condition.
“In the NICU, progress does not come in leaps,” Dr. Aggarwal explains. “It comes quietly, one stable reading at a time.” Slowly, signs of improvement began to appear.
Breathing steadied. Responses improved. The fragile body that once struggled began to gain strength day by day. For Dr. Aggarwal, such moments reflect both medicine and meaning. “There are times when saving a child depends not just on treatment, but on timing,” he says. “Even a small delay can change everything.”
In this case, there was no delay. Supported under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana, the family received cashless treatment, allowing doctors to focus entirely on care without financial hesitation.
After 17 days of intensive treatment, the baby was discharged in stable condition. Now weighing 2.106 kg, still delicate but significantly stronger, the newborn left the hospital in her parents’ arms: alive, stable, and recovering.
In another case, Maninder Singh of Hoshiarpur shared his experience. His daughter, Gurkeerat Kaur, born on April 14 this year, also required neonatal care after birth. “She was treated well at the hospital, and the cost was covered under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Card,” he said. The registration was completed the same day, and the family now has health coverage of up to ₹10 lakh annually.
Maninder Singh added with gratitude, “That is why the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana scheme matters. A person who struggles to afford their everyday living is still able to get good medical treatment for their child. That is something powerful.”
In NICUs across Punjab, silence still exists; but it is no longer filled only with fear. It is slowly being replaced by something else.
Hope. Not loud. Not exaggerated. Just steady, like a monitor showing a stronger heartbeat every day. And sometimes, that is enough to change everything.
