Agartala, July 31: A statewide appeal for financial assistance has gathered momentum in Tripura as 23-month-old Manashree Choudhury, diagnosed with the rare genetic disorder Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), races against time to receive a life-saving gene therapy before her second birthday.
On Friday, Kalyanpur MLA Pinaki Das Choudhury extended support to the family by donating ₹1 lakh and handing over a cheque to Manashree’s father, Dhruba Choudhury. The legislator also appealed to people across Tripura and the country to come forward with financial contributions to help save the child’s life.
Doctors have advised that Manashree must receive Zolgensma, one of the world’s most expensive gene therapies, before she turns two years old on September 3. The treatment is administered only once through an intravenous infusion and has the potential to significantly improve the condition of children suffering from SMA if given within the recommended age.
The cost of the injection remains a major challenge. While its original price is estimated at ₹14–16 crore, reduced import duties could lower the cost to around ₹8–9 crore. Despite an overwhelming public response, the family has so far managed to raise approximately ₹5.5–6 crore, leaving a substantial gap before the treatment can be arranged.
According to the family, Manashree will also need to travel outside Tripura 15 to 20 days before the scheduled treatment, making the fundraising effort even more urgent.
Speaking to reporters, MLA Pinaki Das Choudhury said saving the life of a child is a collective responsibility and urged people from all walks of life to extend support. He said every contribution, regardless of the amount, would bring the family closer to securing the treatment.
Manashree’s father, Dhruba Choudhury, said SMA is a severe genetic disorder and that timely administration of Zolgensma is the only hope for his daughter to lead a normal life. Expressing gratitude to everyone who has already contributed, he appealed for continued public support to help bridge the remaining funding gap before the crucial treatment deadline.
With only a few weeks left, the family continues its desperate race against time, hoping that collective generosity will give Manashree a chance at a healthy future.
