Indi 11 Women Die After Being Paid To Be Stterilization

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11/11/2014

India: 11 women die after being paid to be sterilized - CNN.com

India: 11 women die, 62 more hospitalized after being paid to be sterilized From Sugam Pokharel and Sumnima Udas, CNN updated 6:15 PM EST, Tue November 11, 2014

CNN.com

New Delhi (CNN) -- At least 11 women have died and 62 were hospitalized after undergoing sterilization surgery at a government-run mobile health clinic in India, authorities said.
Those killed and injured were among more than 80 women who had come to a "camp" for sterilization surgery in Bilaspur district in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh, said R.K. Vange, chief medical health officer for the area. The women were each paid 1,400 rupees ($23) to undergo the procedure.
It's part of a decades-long, government-wide initiative to curb population growth in the world's second-most populous nation. The program is not forced or required, but reproductive health activists say it's unethical.
The sterilizations took place on Saturday, Vange said. Many of the women developed complications by Monday, with four different hospitals taking in patients.
Six of the dozens being treated were in critical condition Tuesday, according to hospital officials. District officials have ordered an investigation and the results of autopsies are expected by
Wednesday, Vange added.
Four local health department officials have been suspended in the wake of the deaths and hospitalizations, according to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh's office.
According to CNN affiliate IBN, 83 women had the sterilization surgery in five hours at the mobile clinic.
While deaths as a result of these sterilization drives are not commonplace, activists hope this incident will urge the government to reevaluate its birth control initiatives and update basic health infrastructure in the country.
Human Rights Watch has condemned sterilization drives by Indian health officials to curb population growth. Women are often paid or coerced to undergo surgery in unsanitary conditions. The group has urged India to focus more efforts on contraception and male vasectomies, which are far less dangerous procedures.
"This is devastating news and this is certainly shocking to hear, but we cannot say we are totally surprised by this," said Kerry McBroom, director of the Reproductive Rights Initiative at the Human Rights Law Network in New Delhi. "It was almost inevitable, given the unsafe, unethical and unhygienic conditions that persist throughout India in these camps." http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/11/world/asia/india-sterilization-deaths/index.html?hpt=hp_t2 1/2

11/11/2014

India: 11 women die