DOCTORS Working among victims of the
Bhopal gas tragedy have recently
demanded that a comprehensive study
be undertaken by the Indian Council for
Medical Research to look into problems
relating to the reproductive health
of the affected people. They reported
that the women have complained of
the inability to conceive and other
gynaecological disorders.
At a seminar organised recently by
Sambhavna Trust, a social workers'
group, doctors admitted that "there was
need for focused research on exposure related long-term gynaecological consequences". M P Dwivedi, former director
of the Bhopal Gas Disaster Research
Centre, said long-term impacts of
the gas exposure included leucorrhea,
menstrual irregularity and sterility.
There has been a three to four-fold
rise in male infertility among the gas
victims, claimed Sashi Srivastava, a
gynaecologist. "This is seen particularly
among males who had been exposed to
the toxic gas in the post-puberty stage,"
said Srivastava. Several doctors pointed
out that these ailments have their root in
the trauma suffered by the patients, and
that only a proper medical research can
establish the link between psychological
and gynaecological disorders.
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