Imphal, June 30 2009: "After being denied treatment of an injury at two different health institutions when I disclosed my HIV status, I did not say anything to get treated at RIMS," said Bino (not real name) who participated in a workshop for health care providers held at the complex of Bishnupur District Hospital today.

Bino informed that on May 23, she sustained injuries in an accident while travelling in a vehicle at Kumbi area in Bishnupur District.

She was taken to Moirang Community Health Centre for treatment.

However, when Bino disclosed her HIV status to the medical staff, none of them came forward to treat her.

From there, Bino was taken to JN Hospital.

There too, she was declined treatment when she disclosed her HIV status.

Finally she was taken to RIMS Hospital.

As her condition deteriorated and fearing that she may be rejected once again, Bino did not say anything about her HIV status to her attending doctors and staff and she got the much needed treatment.

Bino said she revealed her HIV status thinking it as her duty so that the attending medical doctors and staff may take up necessary precautionary measures at the time of treating her.

But the way they discriminated and declined to treat her was very sad.

Bino is a widow and has four young children to take care of.

Participating in the workshop, president of Bishnupur Network of Positive People M Thoibi observed that the case of Bino is not the first instance of stigma and discrimination of the medical staff towards HIV positive patients.

This does not meant that all the medical staff are like that.

But there have been many similar cases in the past.

Thoibi further said the very purpose of educating and counselling the HIV positive people to disclose their HIV status at the time of getting medical treatment so as to prevent transmission of the virus get defected by such discriminatory attitude of the attending medical staff.

Medical Superintendent of Bishnupur District Hospital Dr S Mema Devi, District Family Welfare Officer of Bishnupur Dr Sarda Salam and District Malaria Officer of Bishnupur LR Kom were respectively president, chief guest and guest of honour of the inaugural function of the workshop attended by chief functionaries of various projects related to HIV being taken up in Bishnupur district as well as doctors and nurses of the District Hospital.

Issues related absence of ART Centre, CD4 Count machines in the district and the problem of stigma and discrimination being faced by HIV positive people were also discussed during the workshop.

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