Back from front, jawans get help to perform better

Later, Singh came to New Delhi. ‘‘But he was unable to perform due to the trauma injury,’’ says Lieutenant Colonel Rajeev Sood, classified specialist surgery and urology at R & R Hospital. Singh underwent a penile implant operation at the hospital where a bladder was inserted into his scrotal sac and a tube into his penis. ‘‘He can squeeze the bladder and pump fluid into the tube enabling him to have an erection. The tube can be deflated after ejaculation with the help of a valve,’’ says Colonel Madhusoodanan. The operation costs Rs 2.5 lakh, however in the Army it is free. The hospital carries out 10 such operations.

A team of doctors from Mumbai and the hospital are carrying out a series of operations to correct the dysfunction. ‘‘The army now has the money and the expertise. Earlier, soldiers and families were silent about the problem but now with increased awareness they are coming forward,’’ says Lieutenant Colonel Sandhu of the Urology department.

Sipahi Bhoop Singh, 25, recently underwent the implant operation at R&R hospital. Bhoop Singh, unmarried, fractured his pelvic bone in a road accident in J-K. ‘‘Later, he could not have an erection. But after operation, he is cheerful,’’ says an attending doctor. Diabetes, stress, trauma injuries, solitude and hypertension are some reasons, doctors say, for the dysfunction. ‘‘But now we have a solution. The latest inflatable implant is more comfortable,’’ he adds.

(Some names have been changed to protect identities)