Kozhikode: For five whole years, the forceps in her stomach continued to cause stabbing pain but Harshina did not give up. Enduring the physical pain, she continued to fight for her right to live. 

To those who pretend ignorance even though the facts are clear, Harshina says, “The pain that I endured for those five years cannot be measured by any scale. No matter what may come, I will continue to fight until justice prevails.”

Harshina K.K alleged that a pair of forceps were left in her abdomen after she underwent a Cesarean section surgery on 30 November 2017 at the Kozhikode medical college hospital. Prior to this,  she had undergone C-section operations at the Thamarassery taluk hospital for her first two pregnancies in 2012 and 2016 respectively. 

The Manakadavu native has been conducting an indefinite strike in front of the medical college seeking justice. Even though her strike covered 50 days on Monday, authorities have not paid any heed. 

She has decided to carry out a strike in front of the district collectorate on Tuesday demanding the Collector’s attention. 

Following the 2017 Cesarean, she had to undergo a small surgery after two months due to infection. Despite this, she contracted infection twice and had to have surgery again. Harshina consulted numerous doctors but her pain refused to subside.

Her legs swelled and she was unable to  stand or walk.  Since Harshina was unable to carry out household chores, her husband Ashraf had to be by her side constantly. This led to the failure of their previously successful business. The couple incurred a debt of Rs 35 lakhs due to this.

The pain became unbearable when the forceps in her abdomen shifted to her bladder. A doctor from a private hospital in Kozhikode first advised an abdominal scan and discovered the metal object lodged in Harshina’s body. 

As a consequence, a surgery was conducted on 17 September 2022 at the Kozhikode district to remove the forceps. A complaint was given to Health Minister Veena George, Medical College Superintendent and the city police Commissioner. 

However, after an internal inquiry, the medical college authorities issued a report stating that the forceps did not belong to them. With this, Harshina began a hunger strike in front of the Medical College Mother and Child Health department in February. 

In March, Minister Veena George visited the strike site and promised action within 15 days and said that the culprits would be brought to light. Although it wasn't clear where the error occurred, since both hospitals come under the purview of the health department, they are liable to pay for the damages.  

The case was presented in the next Assembly gathering and a probe into the matter along with a compensatory sum of Rs 2 lakhs was granted. However, Harshina is on strike again arguing that the meager sum was not enough to cover the suffering she endured for five years.