HIV woman gives birth by roadside

No admission

The shocking incident took place on Sunday evening in Suryapet town of Nalgonda district, about 170 km from here. According to delayed reports reaching the state capital, some women in the town helped deliver the baby after the pregnant woman collapsed by the roadside.

Alivelu, wife of a daily wage labourer from Kesaram village in Nalgonda, reached Government Area Hospital in Suryapet. After her blood examination, she was found HIV-positive and the staff-on-duty allegedly refused her admission saying the doctors were not available. The 28-year-old was asked to come to hospital the next day. Some relatives accompanying her tried to get her admitted to a private hospital but could not arrange the money. In the meantime, she developed labour pains and some women came forward to help her.

Shocked by the incident, Health Minister D Nagender has announced a probe. “We will take action against those who refused to admit the woman,” the minister said. Alivelu, who had returned to the village with the new-born on Sunday night, was brought to the town and admitted to  hospital by health officials.

R V Chandravadan, Director of Andhra Pradesh AIDS Control Society, said there was no reason for a government hospital to deny admission to any HIV-infected person.