Jagannathprasad: Tension prevailed at Jagannathprasad community health centre (CHC) after it was learnt that illegal vasectomy was carried out without conducting the mandatory HIV tests here in Ganjam district Thursday.
The situation worsened after CHC staff were seen blaming each other for the illegal act. Locals have condemned the irresponsibility of the medical authorities and demanded action against the errant doctors.
There have been cases where HIV-positive women are admitted for delivery or Caesarean section who fear to disclose their health condition fearing discrimination. However, to be on the safe side, it has been made mandatory to conduct a set of tests including HIV tests, hemoglobin tests, BTET test and urine test before any surgery.
That no tests were done here spread panic among women. According to sources, a vasectomy programme was arranged in the CHC for Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Yojana. Many women of the locality had registered for vasectomy.
Pradeep Kumar Mahapatra, a doctor from Bhanjanagar, conducted surgery on all the women. Meanwhile, P Rajeswari, a nurse, who was assisting Pradeep, asked Sabita Muduli, a patient, if she had undergone any test before the surgery to which Sabita replied in a negative.
Soon, the news spread out among other women who were waiting for their turn. Fearing spread of the contagious disease, Rajeshwari walked out of the hospital mid-way. Meanwhile, other women Jyotirmayee, Jharana Gouda, Jhunu Nayak, Pratima Nayak, Pramila Bisoyi, Kumudini Bisoyi, Lina Nayak, Anjana Nayak, Jinu Nayak and Babita Nayak feared undergoing the surgery.
The women took on the doctor for his irresponsibility. However, Mahapatra claimed that it was the responsibility of the CHC staff to conduct the tests before sending the women for surgery. He revealed that 75 women have been operated upon out of whom one was an HIV patient.
Ramamani Debi, the nurse, who was responsible for registration, also claimed that she registered the names of the women for surgery on the orders of the BPM. Meanwhile, BPM Sunil Kumar Panda clarified that he was unaware that any tests were required before surgery. PNN
