Botched tubectomies: 28 women discharged; escorted back home

BILASPUR: As many as 28 out of the 122 women undergoing treatment at various hospitals after the botched sterilisation surgeries in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur district, have been discharged after successful treatment, an official said here today.

"Twenty eight women affected in the sterilisation camps were discharged from different hospitals of Bilaspur after treatment last evening. Each of these women was handed a cheque of Rs 50,000 as per the announcement made by Chief Minister Raman Singh after the incident," the official said.

Bilaspur Divisional Commissioner Sonmoni Borah and Collector Siddharth Komal Singh Pardeshi were present during their discharge and vehicles were arranged by the administration to send these women home, he said.

Those discharged include six from Gaurela, 10 from Pendra, nine from Marwahi and three from Takhatpur regions.

"18 patients from the district Hospital and 10 from CIMS have been discharged after successful treatment," he said.

Thirteen women had died after undergoing tubectomies in state-run sterilisation camps conducted in Bilaspur district on November 8 and 10.

While 12 of the 83 women, who were operated upon at the camp in Pendari village on November 8 died, a protected Baiga tribe woman was the lone casualty from at Pendra block, where around 56 women underwent surgeries at three different camps on November 10.

On directives of Raman Singh, special medical measures have been taken for treatment of the women who had fallen ill after the surgeries, the official said.

Meanwhile, officials asked the discharged women and their family members to inform them about any problem after reaching home.

To ensure safety of these women, they were shifted to their homes in vehicles arranged by administration, escorted by officers and employees, he said.