HIV-hit woman denied bed in B’ngir DHH

Despite efforts by the Government to spread AIDS awareness programme through campaigns including advertisements, an  incident was reported here where an expectant mother with HIV positive was denied bed at the District Headquarters Hospital and she delivered a baby on the verandah on Sunday.

The matter came to the fore with an allegation by the woman with the CDMO following her child’s delivery.

The poor mother and her newborn girl were found lying on the verandah.

As per the woman’s complaint, the hospital authorities refused to allot her a bed for delivery as she was affected by HIV positive. Instead of proper medical care, she received apathy from doctors and nurses attending to her.

According to reports, the woman from Chudapali of Balangir district had been admitted to the hospital in morning on Sunday after she complained of labour pain. The hospital authorities did not allot her a bed after they came to know about her HIV infection.

They directed the nurses to allow her to stay on verandah instead of bed. Later, the woman delivered a baby girl on the hospital verandah.

Strongly reacting to the incident, social activist Sulochana Bahidar demanded stern action against the doctors, nurses and other hospital employees for allegedly misbehaving with the woman.

The CDMO ordered a probe into the incident following the complaint. A probe is underway. Stern action would be taken if anyone is found to have neglected in the treatment or misbehaved with the woman patient, said CDMO Dr Sujnanendra Mishra.