Kendrapara, April 28: A wrong medical report has thrust the stigma of an HIV/AIDS carrier on a pregnant woman.

Taking the wrong diagnostic report to be true, the woman has been disowned by her husband and in-laws. Left alone, the native of Kankada village under Patkura police limits has shifted to her parental house.

“The misery of the woman has moved us. It is really shocking that a healthy and disease-free woman was pronounced a HIV carrier. Our panchayat is trying to settle the matter and unite the family,” said Gopal Das, sarpanch of Baantala gram panchayat.

Doctors at a government-run hospital in Uttarkula had advised her to undergo a series of pathological tests. As the nearby government hospital was not equipped for all the tests, she opted for a blood test at a private diagnostic laboratory. The pathological report compiled by the private diagnostic unit found her infected with HIV virus.

Surgeons at Uttarkula Government Hospital expressed their doubt on the report because the pregnant lady was quite healthy. They later advised for an HIV diagnostic test in the better-equipped district headquarters hospital.

The diagnostic test report confirmed that the pregnant woman was never infected with HIV virus.

By the time the government hospital report came in, the in-laws had already driven out the ill-fated woman from their house.“We are hopeful that her husband would take the woman back with dignity,” the sarpanch said.

“Our panchayat would take up the case of the victim. We, on her behalf, would sue and take to task the diagnostic centre,” he added.“We are yet to receive any complaint in this regard. Still, the matter is being inquired into,” said Biraj Kumar Sahu, chief district medical officer, Kendrapara.

Stigma and superstitious notions associated with the disease continue to rule the roost mostly in rural pockets despite efforts to generate proper awareness from various quarters.

Original

Manoj Kar

Kendrapara, April 28:

For her, life has taken a turn towards worse after an erroneous medical report branded her HIV/AIDS infected.

The victim woman, native of Kankada village under Patkura police limits, is in advanced stage of pregnancy and is expecting a child in a couple of months.

Wrongful diagnostic report has brought in trails of misery for the hapless woman. Her husband and in-laws have disowned her. Abandoned by near and dear ones, she has now shifted to parental house in Kankada village.

“Misery of the woman has moved us. It is really shocking that a healthy and disease-free woman was pronounced HIV carrier. Our panchayat is trying to settle the matter and unite the family”, remarked Gopal Das, Sarpanch, Baantala Gram panchayat.

The doctors of a government-run hospital in Uttarkula advised her to undergo series of pathological test including that of blood sample.

As the nearby government hospital was not equipped enough for the test, she opted for the pathological test in a private diagnostic laboratory. The pathological report compiled by the private diagnostic unit found her contracting HIV virus.

The surgeons in the Uttarkula government hospital cast doubt on the report as the pregnant lady was quite healthy. They later advised for HIV diagnostic test in better-equipped district headquarters hospital.

The diagnostic test report conclusively stated that the pregnant lady was never infected with HIV virus.

By the time the government hospital report came in, the in-laws had already driven out the ill-fated woman from house.

“We are hopeful that her husband with dignity would take the woman back, Sarpanch Das felt. Our panchayat would take up the case of the victim. We on her behalf would sue and take to task the diagnostic center”, he concluded.

“We are yet to receive any complaint in this regard. Still the matter is being inquired into”, said Biraj Kumar Sahu, Chief District Medical Officer, Kendrapara.

Stigma and superstitious notions associated with the deadly disease continue to rule the roost mostly in rural pockets notwithstanding the concerted efforts from various quarters.

Stigma haunts all those infected with the disease. The stigmatized carriers are subjected to ignominy.