Kohima, October 15 (MExN): The Family Planning Association of India, Nagaland Branch in collaboration with Human Rights Law Network, Nagaland Unit and Urban Primary Health Centre, Seikhazou has organized an orientation programme for health care providers today on Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, Termination of Pregnancy Act, and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Technique (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act.
Speaking on the occasion as resource person, Advocate Neiteo Koza, State Coordinator, HRLN gave an overview of the POCSO Act and pointed out the role of Medical & Health Professionals.
She mentioned that whenever a victim is brought in the hospital or health facilities he/she should be provided medical care and examined by a registered health practitioner only before the presence of her parent/guardian or any other person in whom the child has trust and confidence.
She also pointed that no medical practitioner, hospital or other medical facility centre rendering emergency care to the child shall demand any legal or magisterial or other documentation as a pre-requisite to rendering such care.
She mentioned that medical practitioner rendering emergency healthcare shall attend to the needs of the child providing treatment for cuts, bruises and other injuries, provide treatment for STDs, HIV, discussed emergency contraceptives when the victim has reached puberty, make necessary referral or consultation for mental or psychological health or other counselling should be made including collecting forensic evidence in the course of rendering emergency health care.
She also mentioned that medical examination report should be prepared by the medical practitioner and submit the report to the Investigating Officer.
With regard to the provisions of Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, she highlighted that termination of pregnancy can be conducted by a registered medical practitioner only subject to conditions. That to terminate pregnancy, medical expert should give an opinion that the continuance of pregnancy would involve risk to the life of the pregnant woman or of grave injury to her physical or mental health and if there is a substantial risk that birth of the child if born, it would suffer from physical or mental abnormalities, subjected to further conditions.
She also pointed out that sex determination of foetus is a punishable offence and that no Genetic Centre or Genetic Lab or Genetic Clinic should conduct pre-natal diagnostic`techniques for the purpose of determining the gender of the foetus.
