Members of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (DMK’s) medical wing have demanded the dismissal of Health Minister C. Vijaya Baskar and Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan in connection with the transfusion of HIV-infected blood to a pregnant woman at a government hospital in Sattur.
They staged a demonstration on Saturday to condemn the State government’s ‘negligence’ which, according to them, resulted in the transfusion of infected blood to the woman. Raising slogans, the agitators called for the dismissal of both the Health Minister and the Health Secretary.
Former Minister and president of the DMK’s medical wing, Poongothai Aladi Aruna, said that 52% of the country’s population was anaemic, while the figure stood at 54% in Tamil Nadu.
“Protocols were not followed for the transfusion of blood. This has resulted in the woman contracting HIV. The government can extend financial assistance of ₹2 lakh or ₹5 lakh, but will they be able to remove the virus from the body?” she questioned.
Shortage of resources
N.V.N. Somu Kanimozhi, secretary of the party’s medical wing, said the problem was that many blood banks did not have medical officers.
“There are insufficient staff and instruments. Before the blood is transfused, it has to be screened for diseases like HIV, jaundice and malaria. But the minimum equipment required to carry out this screening is unavailable. Such is the sorry state of affairs of the government,” she said.
Negligence alleged
The agitators urged the public to put an end to the AIADMK government by voting the DMK, led by M.K. Stalin, to power in the next Assembly election.
They demanded justice for the affected woman and said steps should be taken to ensure proper screening of blood. They condemned the ‘negligence’ of the government hospitals, where the poor sought treatment.
P.K. Sekar Babu, MLA and district secretary-Chennai East of the DMK participated in the agitation.
