Rude and uninformed behaviour of Director of Health Services Government of West Bengal

[Guest guest]

Dear forum,

This is inform you all about the rude and uninformed behaviour of the Honorable

Health Director, West Bengal State Govt., Dr.Sanchita Bakshi, while submitting

Charter of Demand to Ensure Dignity of Life for PLHIV

On 12th June we (Tarit Chakraborty-BNP+, Pawan Dhal-SAATHII, Kolkata,

Ambalika-HRLN, Mita Singh-President KNP+, Rina Gyne-SPARSHO, Dr. Tirthankar and

Mr. Debdut Saha,Programme Manager BNP+) met Dr.Sanchita Bakshi, Director of

Health, West Bengal State Govt.regarding treatment denial cases in Medical

Colleges.

Not only that she gave a statement few days ago in a leading Bengali News Paper,

Ananda Bazaar Patrika, that the fluids comes out from the body of a HIV

Positive’s persons after their death is very much infectious, dut she didn’t

disclose from where she got the information.

This statement made a lot of confusion among general public. So we met with her

to solve the controversy. But you will be surprised when you know that she just

denied withdrawing her statement. She told us she didn’t make such statement in

any print media, so she won’t withdraw the statement.

But She made funny thing while we talking with her. When we entered in her

cabin, She asked just saying,” Who are you? Why you came here?

We suppose, she thought that we would became afraid of such behaviour. Then she

said,” What is your qualification? Where is your registration certificate?” When

we gave our Identity card she became more rude.

She rang the bell and asked her office staff to drive us from her cabin. But we

already filled up the visitors slip. When the man told her that we filled up the

visitors slip, then she became confused. She started behaving rude and saying,”

I will just inform the minister for your behavior Do you know what I can do?”

When we told that the statement made a problem to accept us in our house. If you

don’t want to give any statement in media, then please come in our press

briefing which will be conducted by us. But she was rigid in her position. She

said,” This is only you, the seven people’s problem, not the problem of masses.

Are all of you are PLWHAs?

She became angry and said,” I always meet with general people, no one complained

me for the statement .Only it is fictitious problem .She gave all the blame on

media. She tells,” I didn’t tell, I tell them about Chicken Guinea, but they

made the statement for HIV Positive.”

We gave her our Charter of Demand and told her you have to withdraw your

statement within 10 days other wise we will go for random protest movement

against your statement. For not finding any scope of fleeing she took that

became afraid she said, ”Where is my Copy?” We already submit it to her and made

a copy of receiving from her.

Our charter of demand. TREATMENT ACTION CAMPAIGN – WEST BENGAL

Charter of Demands to Ensure Dignity of Life for PLHIV June 11, 2007 In the

wake of the repeated cases of denial of treatment for People Living with HIV

(PLHIV) in several government hospitals in Kolkata and districts of West Bengal,

we, the undersigned, demand:

A public explanation or withdrawal of Dr. Sanchita Bakshi’s comment made in a

story published in “Anandabazar Patrika” on May 28, 2007 titled “HIV Rogir Deho

Chhuloi Na Medical” that “It is even more dangerous if an HIV patient dies. No

one wants to handle the body to avoid infection from the fluids released from

it. Usually, if there is no hope for life, such patients are asked to be taken

home. In this case, he was allowed to remain only under pressure. But after

death, it is his wife’s duty to take the body home.” She also added “In this

case, the AIDS Control Society should come forward. No staff except trained

staff will take up such a task.” This statement reflects ignorance about HIV

transmission issues and will spread unnecessary alarm among the general public

and strengthen stigma against PLHIV.

An explanation for the behaviour of the hospital staff involved in the Nitai

Adhikari case from the Medical Superintendent of the Kolkata Medical College &

Hospital.

Exemplary penal measures as per the relevant legislation for the violation of

National AIDS Control Programme guidelines by the concerned hospital staff in

the Nitai Adhikari case.

To know from Dr. R. S. Shukla, Project Director, West Bengal State AIDS

Prevention & Control Society what action has been taken against Dr. Sanchita

Bakshi’s statement and regarding the cases of denial of treatment to PLHIV.

To know why measures for universal precautions are not made and adequately

trained staff are not available in government-run hospitals even after several

numbers of sensitization programmes conducted with them over the last 10 years.

To know (under Right to Information Act) the total number of sensitization

programmes held in government hospitals during the last 10 years and how much

money was spent for the purpose.

A response to all the points made above within 10 days time.

Submitted to:

1) Mr. Kalyan Bagchi, Principal Health Secretary, Department of Health & Family

Welfare, Government of West Bengal

2) Dr. Sanchita Bakshi, Director of Health Services, Department of Health &

Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal

3) Dr. R. S. Shukla, Project Director, West Bengal State AIDS Prevention &

Control Society

With Regards,

Tarit Chakraborty.

Tarit Chakraborty

Regional Co-ordinatore(INP+)

President of BNP+(West Bengal)

email: tarit34@...

Tel: -09836258928