June 18: Poverty is the prime reason for converting some women of Pidugurall town into guinea pigs who have taken the risk of agre-eing to undergo clinical tests. Most of them are living in utter poverty and were lured by brokers. The Hyderabad-based company took advantage of their poverty and started conducting tests at the cost of their health as well as lives. Dhana Lakhmi, a 45-year-old resident of Adarsh Colony in Pidiguralla town of Guntur district, is the sole bread winner for the family. She lost her husband a long time ago. Her 10-year-old son has been suffering from heart problem. With a view to treat her son, she prepared for clinical tests at the cost of her health.

Basically, she is a farm labourer. But, the earnings were insufficient to save her son from cardiac problem. Taking advantage of her financial position, the brokers lured her by offering money and took her to Hyderabad for clinical tests. She collected money from the pharmaceutical company and spent it for the treatment of her child. The illiterate woman was unaware of the side effects of the clinical tests and mainly thought of collecting some money to save her son. Now, she is suffering from body pains, general weakness and she is worried that she will lose her sight also.

The grieving Dhana Lakshmi said, “Poverty forced me to go for clinical tests.” Till recently, she was worried about her son. Now, she is worried about herself and health besides her son. Ms Nagamani, 30, a resident of Lenin Nagar in Pidiguralla town said she has to feed her family. Earlier, she had was working in agriculture farms and feeding her two children with the earned money. Brokers lured her and was easily trapped. She is now suffering from general weakness and worried that she could not go to agriculture farm works. Another woman Malleswari, 39, said her husband is bed-ridden so she has take the risk of feeding family and do some thing to run the family.