The President of the Positive Women’s Network (PWN+) in a letter to the Director General of Castle Hospital, Borella highly criticize the hospital and its staff for refusing and discriminating a HIV+ women who was transferred by the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) for further treatment.
The PWN+ President also states in her letter to the Director General that, refusing to treat a Person Living with HIV (PLHIV) is punishable offence set by the Constitution of Sri Lanka and has violated a Human Right for treatment and care.
The letter has also been copied to His Excellency the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, who is also the Chairperson of the National AIDS Committee. You can download the original letter to the Director General of the Castle Hospital by clicking here.
This is one way to fight against stigma and discrmination. I feel voice from the positive commuity is very importnat and this is a good initialive.
Please correct that the Name of the Dircetor National STD/AIDS Control Programme, Sri Lanka is Dr. Nimal Edirisinghe
Thanks for dropping by.
This incident highlights the importance of regular in-service trainings to health care providers on HIV/AIDS including their roles in prevention and control of HIV/AIDS. During these training sessions, the trainer/s must emphasize the importance of positive attitudes, empathy and the importance of the values of kind hearted human beings particularly towards people who needs our sincere services.
We, as the staff of the NSACP and the teachers of medical colleges and nurses training schools have to take measures to improve the existing basic and continuous medical and nursing education further by emphasizing the realistic and practical aspects of patients care. In my opinion, this is an urgent remedial measure not to hear this type of stories in the future from Mother Lanka as most of the countries in the South and South-East Asian Region regard Sri-Lanka as a country with best practices in Health Care Services.
This incident highlights the importance of regular in-service trainings to health care providers on HIV/AIDS including their roles in prevention and control of HIV/AIDS. During these training sessions, the trainer/s must emphasize the importance of positive attitudes, empathy and the importance of the values of kind hearted human beings particularly towards people who needs our sincere services.
The existing basic and continuous medical and nursing education should be further improved by emphasizing the realistic and practical aspects of patients care. In my opinion, this is an urgent remedial measure not to hear this type of stories in the future from Mother Lanka as most of the countries in the South and South-East Asian Region regard Sri-Lanka as a country with best practices in Health Care Services.
Thanks for dropping by Dr. Ganaga.
Yes, I think we all agree with you on your stand!
This is just a tip of an iceberg but the real stories are hidden in the health sector everywhere. It was never raised to the human rights or to the government earlier.
Health care giver is the first person who has to be a role model to prevent the stigma and discrimination in the society.
Thanks Dr. Ahmed for coming by and posting a comment. I certainly agree with you on the care giver being the first person who should lead with an example.
Unfortunately, individuals can dominate in our system to bring discredit to the entire Health Sector.
Hi, it’s a really nice post! I like reading it.
Keep up the good work!
I am shocked; we do not live in dark ages. I totally agree with the contents of the letter. I am very surprise to see why one would have to write to the president, as this should be investigate by the hospital management as a critical incident. Hope this will be investigated and correct procedures and polices will be in place for management of Blood borne virus infections.
Dr. S Theminimulle
Consultant Microbiologist and Clinical Director in Pathology
South London Health Care
United Kingdom.