Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Reports of Bensy’s ‘death’ flayed

Thiruvananthapuram: An embarrassing mistake by a section of the media in reporting the ‘death’ of Bensy, the HIV-positive child who is under treatment at the SAT hospital, had the Kerala State AIDS Control Society (KSACS) and the SAT hospital authorities hastily convening a press conference on Wednesday afternoon to declare that the child was well and recuperating.

All hell broke loose around noon on Wednesday when television channels began flashing the news of Bensy’s death, which was followed up by background stories about the child and her HIV-positive sibling.

It was following the flurry of phone calls from various media that KSACS authorities and doctors at SAT hospital came to know about the news of Bensy’s ‘death.’ When contacted, the doctors expressed surprise and anger that such a rumour could have been spread when all along they had made it clear that the child was not in an acute condition.

Talking to reporters, Special Secretary (Health) and Project Director of KSACS Usha Titus said that Bensy was well enough to be discharged from the hospital but that the doctors were awaiting the results of some blood tests.

“Doctors are investigating why the child has been losing weight steadily despite being on anti-retroviral therapy and if she has developed resistance to first-line drugs. Second-line ART drugs are still being used only on an experimental basis in the country. But if Bensy needs these drugs, we will make all arrangements to provide it for her,” Dr. Titus said.

Lalitha Kailas, head of Paediatrics at SAT hospital, said that Bensy’s blood samples had been sent to Chennai and Mumbai for determining the viral load and for testing viral sensitivity. The results of these tests are necessary to determine the next line of treatment for her. The child was in better spirits than when she was first admitted to the hospital and was not suffering from any infections at present, Dr. Kailas said.

Dr. Titus said that the HIV treatment and all care and support activities for Bensy and her brother were being sponsored by Hindustan Latex Ltd., the Clinton Foundation, and the State government. The funds, including conveyance allowance for trips to hospitals and for food, were being disbursed to the DMO, Kollam.

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