A successful cesarean surgery has been conducted on an HIV-positive pregnant woman at Jashore General Hospital. Taking into account humanitarian considerations, the hospital authorities proceeded with the operation on Saturday (June 1) at 10:00 a.m. A team of three gynecologists performed the surgery in a designated operation theater.
Dr. Hossain Safayet, the hospital’s superintendent, stated that despite the risk of infection, the decision to proceed with the surgery was made based on humanitarian grounds. One of the hospital’s four operation theaters was allocated specifically for this procedure, and regular surgeries were suspended for the day. Emergency and gynecological operations were continued in the remaining three theaters.
From the outset, there were divided opinions among healthcare providers regarding the treatment of the patient. On one side was the urgent medical need of the pregnant woman, while on the other were concerns about the risk of infection to other patients and the safety of attending doctors and nurses. The doctors mentioned that the woman tested positive for HIV three months ago, when she was six months pregnant. Now, a cesarean delivery had become essential for her and the baby’s health.
According to hospital sources, the facility handles an average of 15–20 childbirths and 15–20 other surgeries each day. Conducting surgery on an HIV-positive patient could require shutting down the operation theater for three days afterward for disinfection, which posed significant operational challenges.
Dr. Bazlur Rashid Tulu, the hospital’s Residential Medical Officer (RMO), commented, “It would have been ideal to carry out the surgery at a specialized hospital. However, the patient is financially underprivileged and unable to afford such care. That’s why we decided to go ahead with the surgery on humanitarian grounds. We had conducted a similar operation before, and the hospital has necessary safety protocols in place.”
Dr. Hossain Safayet further added that due to a severe shortage of hospital cabins, it was not possible to isolate the patient adequately, which also caused delays in the surgery. He emphasized the urgent need for a specialized center for treating HIV-positive patients in the Khulna division.
It is worth noting that in 2023, Jashore 250-Bed General Hospital performed its first-ever cesarean surgery on an HIV-positive pregnant woman. That operation, conducted by a five-member medical board, marked a significant milestone as the first such case at the district hospital level.