New Delhi: HIV+ man jumps to death at GTB Hospital

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HIV+ man jumps to death at GTB

21 Apr 2008, 0212 hrs IST , Rumu Banerjee , TNN

NEW DELHI: A 34-year-old HIV positive man was found dead at the GTB

Hospital in east Delhi on Sunday morning. Police said Prakash Kumar

(name changed), a driver of commercial vehicles, committed suicide by

jumping from the seventh floor of the building. Kumar, whose wife and

one son are also HIV positive, was suffering from depression, the

cops added.

But the claim was disputed by Kumar's younger brother, Amit. " He was

absolutely fine. How can they call it suicide? " he said. Kumar was

diagnosed with a positive status four years ago.

For the Kumar family, it's a tragedy that's going to resonate through

four lives: Prakash's wife, his two sons — the elder is HIV+ — and

Amit, who claims Prakash is the only family he had. " We are four

brothers. But he was everything to me, " he says.

Prakash drove rented vehicles carrying goods across the country. His

24-year-old wife, who along with his elder son, had also been found

HIV+ after Prakash was discovered to have AIDS, is inconsolable. Amit

claims the news of his brother's death is a complete shock.

" He was fine till yesterday evening, when my sister-in-law went with

his dinner. He had even asked her to make bhindi the next day. Now

the hospital says he jumped from the bathroom window of the seventh

floor. I don't understand what's happening, " he said.

GTB hospital MS however says Prakash, who had been admitted on April

13 with low BP, was being treated for HIV with pneumonia. Said Dr P C

Dikshit, " He was found to be missing from his bed in the general ward

after midnight. Initially, we thought he had gone to the bathroom,

but his body was discovered by the guard later in the morning, when

we informed the police. " Police sources corroborate the statement,

saying the wife had admitted that her husband was depressed. Said a

senior police official, " The victim's wife has given a written

statement that her husband had been depressed ever since he was told

by the doctor that his condition was worsening. " While no suicide

note has been found, a case under CrPC 174 has been filed, with a

post-mortem scheduled to take place tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the Kumar family is fighting a battle, not only against

the shock of Prakash's death, but also against prevailing prejudices.

None of the neighbours know about Prakash or his family's HIV status.

That the isolation is proving difficult can be seen from Amit's

frantic attempts to keep the secret from his neighbours, as well as

Prakash's wife's refusal to meet anyone. In fact, lack of

counselling, say experts, could well be the reason behind the drastic

act. In India, surveys have found that among truck drivers, who

account for a majority of AIDS cases, almost 24-34% are HIV+. While

government organisations are working to spread awareness, there are

still many left out of the loop. For the Kumars though, the stats are

cold comfort. With a seven year old who is also HIV+ and another

three year old whose future is hanging in the balance, Prakash's wife

is desperate for answers.

rumu.banerjee@...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Delhi_HIV_man_jumps_to_death

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