Chandigarh, May 15, 2015: An ultrasound machine which was illegally kept in the store of a hospital located in Sector 31, Gurgaon has been sealed by team of the Gurgaon district administration today.
The team including Deputy Civil Surgeon, Dr Saryu Sharma, Secretary of District Red Cross Society, Shyam Sunder Sharma, Sub Inspector in Haryana Police, Joginder Singh and Social Worker Nisha Yadav inspected the hospital, during which the ultrasound machine was noticed lying unsealed in its store.
According to Deputy Commissioner Mr. T L Satyaprakash, the team went for inspection of Shivam Hospital in sector 31, Gurgaon where they were told that the hospital did not have any ultrasound machine, but on further inquiry, it was found that the machine was lying in the store, which is illegal under PNDT Act. He said that the though the machine was registered with the Appropriate Authority and the hospital was sending report ‘nil’ every month. The hospital authorities told that the machine was not in use for the last about five years but it was kept in the store.
Mr Satyaprakash said that as per the provisions of PNDT Act, any Ultrasound Machine should be registered with the Appropriate Authority, that is, Civil Surgeon from the time of purchase itself. The place where it is kept and the person operating the machine should also be registered. If at any point of time, the machine is sold or place is changed, it should also be brought to the notice of the Appropriate Authority and permission is required to be taken, which was missing in this case. Unsealed machine lying in the store gives scope to its misuse by anyone who ever so desires. Such a possibility cannot be ruled out.
He said that so far the team of district administration has inspected more than 20 Ultrasound Centers in the district and the task of inspection would be carried out continuously. Mr Satyaparkash said that the aim is to curb the menace of female feticide and give boost to ‘save the girl child’ campaign. For this purpose, a mobile number 8010088088 has been made operational and anyone can inform about the doctor or para medical staff resorting to female feticide. He assured that the name of informer will not be disclosed and he or she would be rewarded appropriately if the information is found to be correct.
According to Mr Satyaprakash, the team is working in three ways- First, they do counseling of the Radiologist and other staff employed at the Ultrasound Center and sensitize them to be a part of save the girl child campaign. Second, they sensitize the youth for participating in the campaign and are preparing a network of youth brigade which will keep an eye on the persons involved in female feticide. Third, the team is also preparing a list of couples having one or two daughters and if the pregnancy is lost mid way, then the reasons behind it will be enquired into. / (SK Vyas, Jalandhar)