Voice Against the Death of a +ve Child due to Discrimination by the Doctors

[Guest guest]

United Voice Against Death of CLHA Because of Discrimination

Even though, we can’t say that there is an environment of full acceptance. Many

incidents happen in which PLHAs feels discriminated or stigmatized.

Particularly, common thing comes out is that there is more discrimination in

treatment area. Treatment is the right of every person and it is the

responsibility of the doctor to treat every patient without any discrimination.

Though, when they find any person HIV positive either they refuse to treat or

they refuse to operate or they behave very rudely or the para medical staff

behaves rudely.

Recently in the Kutch district one child living with HIV (CLHA) died because in

an emergency condition two doctors refused to treat her and finally because of

delay in treatment she lost her life.

Following is the case,

In the Bhachau Taluka HIV positive couple was living with their 2-year-old

daughter. The daughter was also HIV positive. One-day diyariya and fever caught

2-year-old baby. They took the treatment from the local doctor from Bhachau baby

started to recover. But suddenly on 21st July 2007 her treatment become worst.

She had almost lost her sense. It was necessary to give good treatment in an

emergency. Hence, their parents decided to go to the Gandhidham and take

treatment from the specialist doctor. Approx at 08:30 they reached to the Masoom

Children Care Center hospital. The Para-medical staff at the hospital checked

weight of the baby and collected Rs. 300 for the file charge. At that time

doctor was not in the hospital. Because of very poor condition of the baby her

parents requested to Para-medical staff to call doctor for an emergency and the

doctor arrived hospital after 30 minute.

When the doctor asked to the parents about problems of the baby her mother

informed that baby is HIV positive. Doctor asked for Rs. 5000/-to admit the

child. Their parents asked that at present they are having Rs. 1,500/- and

within an hour they will made arrangement for the remaining. Hence, they

requested to start the treatment. But, doctor refused to treat. To ensure their

commitment for the payment of deposit her mother asked doctor that he can keep

her gold ornaments until they submit the deposit. Though doctor refused to

treatment and behaved roughly. At the end parents had no choice except searching

for the doctor. At last they requested doctor to give case file for which they

have paid Rs. 300/- which could be useful to another doctor for the reference.

But, doctor refused and not given the file.

Still keeping hope, her parents reached to Dhanvantari Hospital at 09:30. Dr.

Mahesh Majedia was there. Hearing HIV status he also refused to treat the baby

giving the reason that he is not having sufficient oxygen bottle. He has also

charged Rs. 200/- for file charge and refused to give the file even after

request of the parents.

Finally they went to Kalrav Hospital where Dr. Jagdish was there. He immediately

cooperated and admitted baby. At that time doctor said that they were too much

late but though he will try his best. But, doctor was right and they were late

and doctors efforts could not save little child. And parents had lost her baby

approx at 03:30. This incidents left lots of questions for all of us,

Advocacy Action Taken by GSNP+:

Through the district level network i.e. Kutch NP+, GSNP+ come to know about the

incident on same day. On next day GSNP+ collected full case study.

Representative directly talk with the parents of the baby to know more

information. Immediately the state team finalized advocacy actions.

- One representative of GSNP+ reached in Gandhidham to know fact closely and to

ensure that planed advocacy can be organized properly.

- We come out with the plan of Rally in Gandhidham on 25th July 2007 and giving

‘Avedanpatra’ to the district collector, Police Commissioner and IMA.

- We submitted request for the FIR in Police station against the doctor on 24th

July 2007.

- We planed to submit ‘Avedanpatra’ to district collector and president IMA in

every district of Gujarat to create pressure group.

- One representative from each district and whole team of GSNP+ reached on

Gandhidham for the rally.

- First, we organized meeting with the IMA president, representatives of IMA as

well as the doctors who refused the treatment. We organized two meetings and

tried to find out real fact.

- Finally we conducted our planed activity in Gandhidham on 25th July and on

26th July in remaining districts. In rally stakeholders like VCTC, PPTCT, NGOs,

school children, etc. participated to support GSNP+.

- On 25th also our team assured the progress by the police department and

requested to take immediate actions.

- We have also submitted ‘Aavedanpatra’ to GSACS and other government

departments.

Gujarat State Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GSNP+) is a network of HIV

positive persons living in Gujarat. It was formed on 6th February 2003 and

affiliated to the Indian Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS. Also, Gujarat

State AIDS Control Society (GSACS) is supporting GSNP+ for various programs and

other need based program. At present, it is having its presence in the 24

districts of Gujarat out of 25 total and in 11 districts registered district

level network of PLHAs are affiliated with GSNP+.

GSNP+ always believes that there is more social acceptance in Gujarat for PLHAs

and after establishment of GSNP+ and the District level network the environment

is now becoming more and more favorable.

Also, credit goes to the GSACS and partner organizations for the commitment and

efforts they are showing.

Our experience shown that we get good feedbacks at the time of advocacy but

still the question is that whether the parents will get justice or not? And most

burning question is that the still how many person will lose their life because

of discrimination against HIV positive people?

On behalf of GSNP+,

Daxa V. Patel,

President,

GSNP+

Jitendra Mehta

e-mail: <jitu_16nov@...>