Infected thalassaemic children in Jodhpur: Numbers could rise

JODHPUR - With at least 20 thalassaemic children likely to be in danger after they allegedly received HIV and Hepatitis C infected blood at a government hospital here, the chief minister’s office (CMO) has sought a report on the matter.

Marwar Thalassaemia Society, the NGO that brought the matter to light, says the number of infected children could rise after more tests were conducted.

The blood transfusion took place at Ummed Hospital, where just two years ago, five children were found to be infected with HIV and 29 with hepatitis after being given infected blood. Nothing has changed since then, it seems.

“We are collecting detailed information from the medical college and hospital and also the Marwar Thalassaemia Society, the NGO that brought this matter to light. We hope to send our report to the CMO in the next couple of days,” a district administration official told IANS.

The incident was reported this week.

The Society has alleged that 20 children suffering from thalassaemia in the age group of 2 to 19 years have tested positive for HIV and Hepatitis C after transfusion of infected blood at Ummed Hospital here.

“Three have been found HIV positive and 17 others found to be suffering from Hepatitis C,” said Vipin Gupta, secretary of the Marwar Thalassaemia Society.

“This figure might go up if tests are conducted among all the 130 thalassaemic children registered with our society,” he said. According to Gupta, tests have been conducted only on 80 of the children so far.

The Ummed Hospital authorities, have, blame the state government for not providing adequate testing kits to ensure that blood given to the children is infection free.

“We do not have adequate testing kits…how are we supposed to find that the blood is infection free or not?” a doctor at the hospital asked on condition of anonymity.

Gupta said it was shameful that such a thing had been happening for a long time. “In December 2008, five children were found to be infected with HIV and 29 with Hepatitis at the same hospital after blood transfusion,” Gupta said.

He said the state government at that time constituted a committee that had suggested the need for reforms in the blood donation process.

“However, it seems no one even looked at the recommendations of the committee, otherwise we would not have had these new HIV infections,” Gupta said. “We want the blood banks to have better technology,” he said.

An additional district magistrate (ADM) has been asked to report the findings in the latest incident.

The government-run S.N. Medical College, Jodhpur, has set up a three-member committee to enquire into the matter. The committee will also probe if there are any flaws in the blood bank’s testing methods.