HIVE in the rescue of a molested adolescent

It was a humid evening of September 2005. A team member of HIVE, while walking down S.P.Mukherjee road spotted an adolescent girl lying on the street, writhing in abdominal pain. As she lay there, people passing by would pause momentarily; some would strike a conversation while others would just move on. Our staff immediately informed the emergency response unit at HIVE, and within a few minutes, the team took her to the emergency ward at M.R.Bangur Hospital.

On the way to the hospital, in an attempt to communicate with the patient, the team realized that she suffered from speaking disabilities and also appeared to be mentally challenged. The doctors examined her, prescribed some medicines and informed the team that she was five months pregnant.

The scenario changed all of a sudden. The hospital refused to admit her. There was no formal guardian of the patient, to whom the team could hand over her responsibility. So HIVE decided to admit her in a private nursing home. As the counselor in the team, started to interact with her, she faintly muttered her name – Gayatri. She was only 16 years of age and had no recollection of how she arrived at Kolkata form Bihar. Young Gayatri- with speaking and mental disabilities had been brutally raped in the city.

It was the most difficult moment for the team to make Gayatri realize that she was indeed carrying a baby. After her pregnancy related blood tests were done, the report was shocking as Gayatri was detected HIV positive. The nursing home according to their policies decided not to keep her admitted any further. So, the search for a safe shelter for Gayatri began and in a few days, HIVE was able to place her in Mother Teresa’s Home.

At her new home, Gayatri was very well taken care of and within a few months, she gave birth to a beautiful boy child. It was February 2006. Gayatri was still recovering from her post natal complications when she suffered from high fever. Unfortunately in two weeks time, she passed away. Another alarming news was waiting to be heard. The baby boy was detected as HIV positive. Even before this little boy learnt to toddle, his fate was sealed. Lying on the bed of Mother Teresa’s home for infants – probably he is still searching for the loving touch of his parents.

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