From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: Protests rife in the State over unprecedented episodes of at least four unsuspecting patients getting infected with the AIDS virus after undergoing blood transfusion in Mangaldoi government hospital in Darrang district of North Assam.
Normal life was paralysed in entire Darrang district in view of a 12-hour bandh district-wide bandh called by Asomiya Yuva Mancha and BJP’s Darrang district unit in protest against the glaring lapse on part of the hospital authority in the case and demanding compensation to the victims.
The agitators on Monday burnt effigies of Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, health minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma and local ruling Congress legislator as well as Minister for Information and Public Relations Basanta Kumar Das as part of the protest.
Finding his government on the dock over the incidence of HIV infection in a government civil hospital, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday announced Rs 5 lakh each to all the four persons including two women who have contracted dreaded virus after undergoing blood transfusion in the hospital.
Gogoi also said the State Government would bear the entire medical expenses for the treatment of these victims. He has directed Health & Family Welfare Minister, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma and Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, VS Bhaskar to rush to Mangaldoi Civil Hospital to take stock of the latest situation there following the reported infusion of blood from a HIV infected donor through the hospital blood bank.
Already three employees of the hospital including the in charge of the blood bank have been suspended on charges of negligence of duty. They included blood bank in-charge Jiten Saharia, laboratory technicians Ranjit Chandra Deka and Padmadhar Barua.
On the other hand the four unfortunate victims of the glaring lapse on part of the hospital blood bank authority, staged sit-in demonstration in front of the hospital with their face covered demanding adequate compensation, rehabilitation and exemplary punishment to those responsible for their plight.
Gogoi earlier instituted a one-man inquiry commission of Additional Chief Secretary, PP Varma to probe into the incident and to submit a report within one month. Gogoi also asked the State Advocate General to explore the legal option for initiating deterrent action against those found guilty.
Dr Sarma has deputed a team of experts from Guwahati Medical College Hospital.