Sharbat Gula Arrives in Bengaluru for Hepatitis C Treatment
Sharbat Gula, the iconic "Afghan Girl" whose 1985 photo in National Geographic became a symbol of her country’s wars, is reportedly arriving in Bengaluru for treatment at a private hospital in the city. The 32-year-old Afghan woman was deported from Pakistan after being arrested with a forged Pakistani Computerised National Identity Card.
Ambassador of Afghanistan to India Shaida Mohammad Abdali tweeted on Saturday that Sharbat Gula would be receiving free treatment in India. "The Iconic Afghan Sharbat Gula will soon be in India for medical treatment free of cost – Thank you India for being a true friend!" Abdali said in a tweet. He also thanked Narayana Health City in Bangalore, saying, "Touched by NARAYANA, hospital in Bangalore, offering the Iconic Sharbatgal free of cost treatment and hospitality: ‘friend in need.’"
Sources at Narayana Health City said they had not received confirmation about whether or not she would be coming to the hospital for treatment.
In 2003, a two-year-old Pakistani girl Noor Fathima, who was born with several holes in her heart, was successfully treated at Narayana Hrudayalaya and her surgery became a symbol for India-Pakistan friendship. It was after her successful surgery that more children from Pakistan, born with congenital heart defects, were brought to India for treatment.
Published – November 13, 2016 05:28 pm IST
Reference : https://www.thehindu.com/news/Afghan-Girl%E2%80%99-to-arrive-in-Bengaluru-for-treatment/article16444473.ece