Gujarat Health Minister Denies HIV Infection During Blood Transfusion

Gujarat Health Minister Jay Narayan Vyas has denied reports that 23 children contracted with HIV during blood transfusion in a government hospital in Junagadh town. "It (HIV infection) has not happen due to blood transfusion from the Junagadh Blood Bank. When they (patients) came to our civil hospital then it was detected during blood test before transfusion. So it is wrong perception," Vyas told mediapersons in Ahmedabad city.

He said that a high-level team had gone to Junagadh to ascertain the details of the incident and the government would undertake more precautionary measures on the basis of the report.

"As soon as the media reported, we constituted a high-level team, which consists of joint director blood transfusion, health services deputy director and etc. They have gone to Junagadh. We have no problem in taking more precautionary measures on the basis of report," added Vyas.

Scores of children suffering from Thalassemia visit the hospital frequently to get blood transfusions. However, such an incident has brought to light the negligence on the part of the hospital authorities.

Thalassemia is an inherited disorder of haemoglobin in red blood cells, characterised by anaemia and is prevalent in individuals of Mediterranean, African, or Southeast Asian ancestry.

Source-ANI