The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Sushma Swaraj seeks free medical care for HIV-infected child

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 14, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Sushma Swaraj seeks free medical care for HIV-infected child

Staff Reporter

BJP leader visits Reshmi's house at Pachalloor

NOBLE GESTURE: The BJP leader Sushma Swaraj with 15-month-old Reshmi who was diagnosed as HIV positive, allegedly after a blood transfusion two days after her birth. - Photo: S. Mahinsha

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: BJP leader Sushma Swaraj has said that the State Government should provide free medical aid to 15-month-old Reshmi who has been found to be HIV infected, allegedly after a blood transfusion given to her two days after her birth, at SAT Hospital here.

"The child's mother, father and brother have been found to be HIV negative. I am told that the blood given to her came from Medical College blood bank here. This shows that the infected blood certainly came from that blood bank. This is a sin that cannot be forgiven. Some head should roll for this. The person responsible must be found out," Ms. Swaraj told presspersons after visiting the child's house at Pachalloor near here and talking to her parents.

HIV positive persons get AIDS only 10 to 15 years later. During this time they can be treated and even cured. So, the Government should do everything it can to treat the child, she said.

Ms. Swaraj said the incident should be a warning bell for the rulers and for those engaged in fighting AIDS. At a time when the number of AIDS patients is increasing in the country, one of the first things to be targeted is the use of unsafe blood. This route for HIV infection can be controlled, she said. The previous Central Government had initiated a `Safe Blood' campaign under which all blood banks have to follow certain parameters and checks to ensure safety of the blood they take in and give out.

With the BJP State president doing the translation, Ms. Swaraj earlier spoke to Reshmi's mother, Asha. Ms. Asha told Ms. Swaraj that till a couple of months ago, the child used to crawl, sit and behave like normal children. "Now she does not crawl, she does not even sit in one place. She has a constant cold," Ms. Asha said.

Reshmi was born in July last year at a private hospital. After an abnormal colour was noticed on the infant's skin, she was shifted to SAT Hospital where she was given blood transfusion. The Government has given Rs.10,000 to the family for Reshmi's treatment.

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