Vijayawada: Women associations have staged a protest at Old Government Hospital on Tuesday alleging that an attendant intentionally poured acid on a woman in postnatal care because she refused to bribe her. The woman’s relatives have complained to the hospital superintendent and she has immediately called an enquiry.

According to the relatives of G. Priyanka, a resident of Tadigadapa, she had delivered a baby boy on July 15, in Old Government Hospital. The doctors had done a C-Section for the delivery. After being discharged from the hospital, Priyanka developed infection on the sutures. She was again admitted to the hospital on the advice of her doctor.

On July 28, 2017 she was advised an enema and duty attendant Sk. Shareefa was supposed to administer it. But the attendant agreed to administer the enema only on payment. The patient's relatives initially refused to bribe her, but later gave her `50 which she reportedly thought was too meager. In retaliation and anger, she completed the process roughly, completely ignoring the patient’s agony, say patient's relatives. Soon black rashes appeared on her thighs and legs. On Tuesday morning, relatives of the woman staged a protest at the hospital demanding serious action.

Dr. N. Srinivasa Vittal Rao, deputy superintendent of Old GGH says that the reason for the rash was probably because of the disinfectant cleaner used to clean the bedside table. He said that they had started a probe into the issue.