Asma
is in hospital again only 14 months after she had a kidney
transplantation.
The
19-year old girl was admitted to Bangabandbu Sheikh Mujib
Medical University (BSMMUH) on Sunday, about eight months after
she left it with a fresh lease of life.
Looking
pale and worried Asma said. "I was leading a normal life
till a couple of weeks ago when doctors suggested me to
discontinue one of the drugs (cyclosprine) I have been taking
since my kidney transplant."
Sitting
in her bed at a cabin in the hospital on Tuesday, she went on,
"For the last one month, I have high fever and subsequently
acute pain in my lower right abdomen."
When contacted. BSMMUH's head of kidney department Prof
Harun-ur-Rashid, ruled out that Asma was having any kidney
trouble like the body 'rejecting' the kidney. "Her kidney
Is functioning quite good, " he said.
Prof
Rashid. who had supervised Asma's treatment also during her
nearly one year stay at the hospital earlier, said, "We are
suspecting that Asma has drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR) and
jaundice at the same time. So it is quite a difficult
condition."
A
garments factory worker from Magura, Asma underwent an operation
at Dhaka Medical College Hospital 0n August 11,1998 for removal
of ovarian tumor. But doctors removed her only functioning
kidney reportedly by 'mistake', leaving her life in danger.
When
this came to light, DMCH gynecologists at tempted a cover-up.
But a media focus on this led to a public outcry and her quick
transfer to BSMMUH on September 7, 1998.
But
sadly, Asma had to wait for more than five months for kidney transplantation
, During this period, she survived on costly
haemodialysis.
The
government bore the expenses for her treatment and is doing so this time also,
In
a five-hour operation at BSMMUH on February 2 last year, Asma's mother Zahura donated one of her kidneys so that
her daughter lives.
The
government had formed two prone bodies regarding the 'mistake'
of DMCH doctors at that time but their reports are
yet to made public.
A
human rights group, Odhikar, had filed a case with the CMM's
Court on behalf of
Asma seeking prosecution of
the doctors responsible and adequate compensation to the victim.
The case is still going on.
The
main accused in the case is Dr Mahmuda Khatun.
