HIV positive woman ostracised in WB

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HIV positive woman ostracised in WB

5 Jul 2008, 1340 hrs IST,PTI

KOLAGHAT (WB): A 30-year old woman and her family have been ostracised by

residents of her village near Kolaghat after she tested HIV positive.

Tuku Singh, the mother of a seven-year-old daughter, was diagnosed to have been

affected three months ago and underwent treatment for about two-and-half months

at the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital.

She returned home to her parents at Mahish Gate near the Kolaghat Thermal Power

station on June 30 and was socially boycotted by the villagers, the family said.

Her husband is a contractor worker and stays at Haldia and she stays with her

father, who is a farmer.

Her parents have complained that the child is being prevented from attending

school by the villagers and the family has to rely on relatives for buying their

daily provisions. They are even prevented from using the pond outside their home

and none of their neighbours speak to them or visit them.

Chief Medical Officer, Health, Ranjit Ray when contacted said that he had

received complaints from both the family and the panchayat on the social

boycott.

The block medical officer, health, has been sent to the village to look into the

case, he said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/HIV_positive_woman_ostracised_in_WB/ar\

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