When Latheesha Ansari enters the hall to write the Civil Services examination on June 2, she will be taking along a bulky oxygen cylinder. Suffering from pulmonary hypertension for the past one year, she needs oxygen support for a major part of the day.

A resident of Erumeli in Kottayam, she has to travel all the way to Thiruvananthapuram for the examination. A few months ago, following a request to the authorities, the Kottayam District Collector had sanctioned a portable oxygen concentrator for her, but with the tendering process yet to happen, she will have no other alternative, but to take the oxygen cylinder with her.

Pulmonary hypertension is a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries, causing the narrowing or destruction of capillaries. This impedes blood flow through the lungs, leading to eventual weakening of the heart muscles due to increased strain in pumping blood. One of the symptoms of the condition is shortness of breath, even when at rest.

Brittle bone disease too

Ms. Ansari was diagnosed with Osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease) at birth. She has been confined to a wheelchair due to this. But the condition had not stopped her from pursuing her education.

Refusing to go to a special school, she studied in a regular school and later went on to complete her M.Com.

With her keyboard playing skills, she has also participated in television shows.

She had planned to appear for the Civil Services examination last year, when she was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension. Since then, she has mostly spent her days at home, as oxygen support was needed throughout.

‘Unaffordable’

“We have rented an oxygen concentrator and cylinder for my regular use. Initially, I needed oxygen support round-the-clock. Now, I can do without it for short intervals. To appear for the examination, I would need to take these cylinders. The portable oxygen concentrator is unaffordable to us. I had to set aside my Civil Services dreams last year, but this year, I am determined to appear. I only wish that I could get a portable concentrator before I head to the examination hall,” says Ms. Ansari.