HIV positive patient turned away from Nair hospital gets NGO shelter

Mumbai: A 40-year-old HIV positive patient, who was denied treatment at the civic–run Nair Hospital, has been offered rehabilitation at a shelter by the Mumbai Districts AIDS Control Society (MDACS).

The Asian Age had reported last Thursday about the patient, who is a commercial sex worker, being denied treatment at Nair Hospital. The MDACS has offered to put up the patient at a Trombay-based shelter run by NGO Niramay Niketan for her rehabilitation. The patient said she would prefer to take up the offer as it is giving her a respectable, secured future. The NGO will take up the responsibility for her upkeep and treatment at the shelter, where she will get training in vocational courses, including stitching.  

The victim said she was receiving proper treatment; doctors were checking on her twice and keeping proper tabs on her health at the Nair Hospital. Doctors are also planning a skin grafting surgery for her after 15 days.

Dean of Nair hospital Dr Ramesh Bharmal, said, “We are providing all the necessary treatments. Her wound is being dressed twice a day. We are planning a grafting surgery once her wound is healed which will be done after 15 days.”

Director of Mumbai AIDS Control Society Dr Shrikala Acharya said, “We have taken cognisance of that particular patient. We will be shifting her to the to Trombay based NGO Niramay Niketan for her future rehabilitation.”

“We have spoken to the NGO authorities for her and once she is discharged from the Nair hospital we will take her to the NGO if she is willing to go,” Dr Shrikala said. While talking to The Asian Age, the patient said, “ I am ready to go, if I am getting a better life. I will take this helping hand, as I will prefer to take up the offer as it is giving me a respectable, secured future.”