Bad blood: 2,234 get HIV after transfusion
In the last 17 months alone, 2,234 persons across India have been infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) while getting blood transfusions. The maximum number of such cases — 361 — was reported from Uttar Pradesh due to unsafe blood transfusion practices in hospitals.
Just last week, a three-year-old boy from Assam’s Kamrup district, admitted to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital for treatment of burn injuries, is reported to have contracted HIV due to transfusion of contaminated blood.
Gujarat with 292 cases, Maharashtra with 276 and Delhi with 264 cases are the other leading States where patients have been transfused unsafe blood.
The data was revealed by National AIDS Control Organization in response to a Right to Information query by activist Chetan Kothari.
“The government has been slackening on raising AIDS awareness due to budget cuts. Cases like these keep happening and no action is taken against erring hospitals and blood banks. This is an extremely serious issue, and the government needs to address it urgently,” said Mr Kothari.
In India, NACO has been primarily responsible for ensuring provision of safe blood. According to the latest annual report, till September 2014, NACO’s total blood collection was around 30 lakh units. Nearly 84 per cent of the donated blood units came from Voluntary Blood Donation, which seem to be the source of the problem, says Naresh Goyal, Deputy Director General, NACO.
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