Baba Amte has cancer

NAGPUR: Noted social worker Baba Amte, in a private nursing home for the past one week, was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, a kind of leukemia on Friday, hospital authorities said. The nonagenarian is being treated at Avanti Institute of Cardiology.

Dr Uday Mahorkar said, “For the last one week, Baba Amte has been suffering from severe anemia, thrombocytopenia (decreased platelet count) and neuropenia for which he was getting supportive treatment in the form of blood and platelet transfusion and antibiotics.

“At present, he is clinically stable. However, Amte requires further hospitalisation for a week and life-long treatment in the form of antibiotics and blood transfusion after discharge.

“Because of his poor hematological status, he is prone to infections. So, he has been isolated from till his condition improves.”

Amte was shifted to the nursing home last week after he complained of uneasiness due to urine infection at his Anandwan ashram in Warora, Chandrapur district.