The Chhattisgarh health secretary Alok Shukla, on Friday, ordered an inquiry into a mass sterilisation camp that occurred on August 26 in Surguja district. The Chhattisgarh health branch reportedly carried out tubectomy surgical procedures on 101 women, in 8 hours, on the camp. The chief medical and health officer (CMHO), Poonam Singh Sisodia, served notice to two doctors, which includes the surgeon who performed the surgical procedures, on August 28.
Officials claimed that the women, primarily tribals, have been from the Mainpat block of the district and were sterilised at Narmadapur community health centre on August 26. According to neighbourhood media reports, the tubectomy surgical procedures have been reportedly carried out between 7 pm and 3 am.
“We have issued a show-cause notice to 2 doctors, including a physician, and are expecting their reply. If they're found guilty, the action could be taken,” stated the CMHO.
According to authorities, 30 sterilisation camps have been held in Surguja this year, and 821 sterilisation operations had been carried out until now.
“ Fortunately, all women are healthy, but because the number of sterilisation operations has crossed the stipulated guidelines, I am ordering an inquiry into the matter,” said Alok Shukla, secretary of the health department, Chhattisgarh. Under the Central government’s guidelines for National Family Welfare Programme, a doctor can conduct a maximum of 30 sterilisation operations in a day.
“The surgeon told us he was pressurised by the villagers stating that they had travelled long distances and it would be difficult for them to come again. This, however, doesn’t mean that surgeons should flout the government guidelines, and hence we have ordered an inquiry,” Shukla added.