The Indian Medical Association has asked its members to refrain from conducting sex-determination tests and aiding female foeticide. No support would be extended to practitioners caught in the act, the IMA said on Sunday. "We as an organisation should warn our members against aiding in such heinous crimes", said Dr. Vinay Agarwal, joint secretary, IMA headquarters, New Delhi.
He was speaking at a regional workshop on female foeticide and infanticide organised by the IMA, Tambaram, with support from the IMA headquarters and the UNICEF here.Dr. P. K. Kesavan, IMA State president, said the organisation was concerned over the issue and was committed to rooting out female foeticide. The IMA and non-governmental organisations should work in cooperation with each other and a continuous monitoring and reporting mechanism should be evolved. Dr. Ketan Desai, IMA national president, said an awareness drive should be launched to prevent female foeticide and infanticide.
Mr. L. K. Tripathy, Health Secretary, pointed to three indicators in the census 2001 and said the situation in the State had improved compared to the previous decade.
Ms. Sabitha Naqvi, from UNICEF, New Delhi, stressed the importance of roping celebrities and film personalities into the anti-foeticide campaign. Mrs. Latha Rajanikanth, correspondent, Ashram School, Chennai, lighted a traditional lamp to mark the inauguration. Dr. Sheela Ramani, treasurer, IMA, Tambaram, Dr. Sanjeev Malik, secretary, IMA, New Delhi, Dr. M. Balasubramanian, programme coordinator, and Mr. Thomas George, from UNICEF, Chennai, highlighted various aspects of the problem.
Courtesy : The Hindu
