GMCH in denial mode, PIL in HC

HIV infection after blood transfusion

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, May 11: A day after a poor couple claimed that their three-and-a-half year-old son acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection from blood transfusion at the Gauhati Medical College & Hospital, the tiol Network of Positive People (NNPP) has decided to file a PIL at the Gauhati High Court seeking punishment to the guilty and directions to the government to ensure the victim security for life.

"The incident is very unfortute. One wonders how such an incident could happen at a premier government hospital. The victim has to be given adequate compensation and the guilty deserve punishment," NNPP member Jahbi Goswami said.

Goswami said after the incident at Mangaldai in which five people tested HIV-positive following alleged blood transfusions at a government hospital, the government had released Rs 5 crore for upgrading the State's blood banks. "It needs to be seen how the money was spent… if the purpose was met," she said.

Meanwhile, GMCH authorities remained in denial mode, insisting that the boy could have acquired the virus during the six-month intervening period in which he was not admitted at the hospital.

"We are not sure if he was taken to any other hospital during that time. We need to verify many things before coming to a conclusion," GMCH superintendent AK Bezbaruah said.

The victim was given multiple blood transfusions in the course of several surgeries last year to treat his burn injuries.

The boy was admitted at the hospital on April 15 last year after he suffered 40 percent burn injuries in an accident. He was under treatment at the hospital till October 3 last, during which period about a dozen surgeries were performed on him. He was re-admitted again on March 29 this year for two more surgeries.

The boy has been put on Anti-Retroviral Therapy since March 30.

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