The Niriang survivor of domestic violence currently housed in Shillong Civil Hospital Shillong is likely to be shifted to the North East Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS).
Speaking to Highland Post Medical Superintendent (MS), Joint Director of Health Services (DHS), Dr Ailancy Kharjana said that this decision was taken with the best welfare of the survivor in mind. The most important is that the patient is severely dehydrated and needs infusion of IV fluids. She needs fluids in her body but since most of the skin suffered severe burns the usual spots to insert the cannula for giving IV fluids is not there.
Therefore the need for IV feed through a central vein. This is the main reason she is being referred to NEIGRIHMS. However it is the patient’s choice whether to shift there or not. “We will give her the best care we can here with our limited facilities for cases such as hers,” she said.
When asked for a brief of the survivor’s condition, the attendant doctor, Dr Cliff Wanniang explained that the hospital is doing whatever is required as a first level of medical care.
“In burn cases like hers there are many levels of treatment, she needs better expertise and long term care than what we can offer here,” he said. NEIGRIHMS has those facilities such as plastic surgery and other specialized treatment for burn victims, he said.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that at first the patient and her family were hesitant to shift to NEIGRIHMS, which is unfamiliar to them. Also, as the survivor’s mother, 74-year-old Hiarmon Suting told this reporter, the family was worried about the expenses as they were not financially stable. However after well wishers and officials explained to them that the expenses would be taken care of as per procedure for such cases, Hiarmon said they want the best treatment for her daughter.
State Women’s Commission chairperson Iamonlang Syiem has assured them all support for the recovery of the survivor.
