AIDS victim’s ‘mercy death’ cries go unheard

[Guest guest]

[This news item summarizes what is the deep rooted flaw of HIV response in

India. Not taking preparation for integrating HIV as part of primary health care

needs of India. The news heading highlights the insensitivity of the language of

the journalist who compiled the story. A person living with HIV & AIDS is not a

victim. He or She deserves provisions for basic health care as a right not as a

charity.

The most urgent and appropriate response to this situation also included

“taking the health care providers at the Fatehabad, local General Hospital and

thePGI, Rohtak who have refused to accommodate the patient for criminal

negligence and misleading the patient. Editorial comment]

AIDS victim's `mercy death' cries go unheard

Sushil Manav

Fatehabad, October 8

A man suffering from HIV/AIDS has been lying on a bed in the open

crying for mercy death here for the past one month.

The local General Hospital authorities have refused to accommodate

the victim on the grounds that they do not have any treatment for

the victim. With his wife having already deserted him, the victim

has no one to look after him. His aged father, Nand Kishore (70),

has already sold off his ancestral house for his treatment and has

no place for shelter.

Mohan (30) worked as a truck driver in Punjab and used to go to

distant places with his vehicle. In the process, he contacted the

deadly virus but did not know of its presence in his body. He got

married to Santosh four years ago and now has a daughter too.

He fell ill last year and his problem refused to subside despite

treatment from several doctors.

With no source of income, his father had to sell off their small

ancestral house at the local Thakar Basti to meet the expenditure on

his treatment.

However, the condition of Mohan went on deteriorating despite

treatment.

It was only six months ago that the family came to know of his HIV-

positive status.

The local General Hospital authorities, where Mohan was being

treated, discharged him on the grounds that they did not have the

treatment facilities needed for him and asked his father to take him

to Rohtak.

Meanwhile, Mohan's wife Santosh left him with her daughter and went

to her parent's home four months ago. Nand Kishore claims Santosh

and their daughter were also tested in the General Hospital and they

tested negative for HIV.

Nand Kishore told this correspondent that though he took his son to

the PGI, Rohtak, for treatment and they did get medicines free of

cost, but the condition of his son has deteriorated rather than

improving.

He said the doctors had told him that Mohan would not be able to

survive for long now.

Mohan's condition is so bad that burns have developed all over his

skin and he is unable to walk or even go to toilet.

Nand Kishore is putting up in a dharamshala, where he works as a

helper.

But, he has no place to provide shelter to his ailing son.

Lying on a cot in the open outside the General Hospital, Mohan

pleads for death from whosoever goes to see him. Those living in the

vicinity of the place, where Mohan's cot has been placed, have

served an ultimatum to Nand Kishore to remove him from the street.

Already in the twilight years of his life, Nand Kishore, too, wishes

that his son dies soon so that he can be relieved of the pain and

suffering he is going through.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071009/haryana.htm#2