Pregnant woman, blood donor undergoing ART in Madurai GRH

There he enquired about the health condition of the woman and also the blood donor, who was referred to the GRH from Ramanathapuram Government Hospital. 

Speaking to reporters, the Project Director said Anti Retroviral Therapy treatment is being provided to the pregnant woman. Stating that such incidents would not recur in the future, he promised a thorough probe with all the nearly 190 blood banks in the state. He also urged the public not to believe in rumours spread on social media.

Meanwhile, S Shanmuga Sundaram, Dean (in-charge) of GRH, who accompanied the Project Director, said more medical attention was being given to the pregnant woman to ensure that baby is not infected with HIV. A 42-day intensive medical care would be given to the baby post delivery, he said.

In the tests taken at GRH also, the victim tested positive for HIV and Hepatitis B. But her hemoglobin level and white blood cell count is normal now, he said. Reporting a marginal improvement in the victim’s health, the Dean informed that a nine member team of doctors had been constantly monitoring the condition of the woman.

Sundaram informed that the 19-year old blood donor, whose condition is stable, has been kept under observation in the intensive care unit in GRH, Madurai. He is also undergoing Anti Retroviral Therapy treatment in the hospital, the Dean added.

Virudhunagar Joint Director of Health Services R Manoharan, when contacted, said the pregnant woman, who was diagnosed with hemoglobin deficiency, in ‘O’ positive group, received the blood transfusion after approaching a private clinic in Sattur. However, something went wrong, the Joint Director added.

The NHRC on Friday sent notices to the Centre and the Tamil Nadu in connection with a 24-year-old pregnant woman contracting HIV allegedly after being transfused contaminated blood supplied by a blood bank which failed to conduct proper screening for the virus.

The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the state Chief Secretary seeking a detailed report, including action taken against the guilty and relief and counselling provided to the victim, within four weeks.

The woman, who was eight months pregnant with her second child was advised to have a blood transfusion citing haemoglobin deficiency, Joint Director of Health Services, R Manoharan said.

The Commission observed that this reported painful incident has raised a serious issue, regarding safe handling of blood samples, detection of diseases like HIV.

“A nationwide move is required to be taken to examine the procedures so that right to life of innocent people is not violated. Accordingly, the Secretary, Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has been asked to call for a status report on the issue, from all the states/Union Territories and submit a report to the Commission within six weeks along with their comments thereon,” the NHRC said.

Urging the state government to ensure more vigil while collecting and handling blood from donors, VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan said it pains him to know about the goof up in transfusion resulting in a pregnant woman getting infected with HIV. The VCK leader, who visited Ambattur to condole his party cadre father’s death said, “It causes me great pain to know that a pregnant woman was transmitted HIV due to negligence of health care professionals. It can never be accepted. 

The government and private health care facilities should take utmost care during blood donation camps and ensure that infected blood is not stored. The government should come up with a strict set of rules regarding the same.” Commenting on the ongoing strike by teachers, Thirumavalavan said that the demands of intermediate teachers should be considered and fulfilled soon. “It is a genuine demand for equal pay and should be considered,” he added.

Recalling the incident in which HIV infected blood was infused into a pregnant woman in Sattur, MDMK general secretary Vaiko on Thursday said that the government hospitals (GHs) are playing with the lives of common man. “As the expenses on medical treatments have skyrocketed, poor and middle-class people have no other option but to visit GHs but the GHs are playing with the lives of the people,” said Vaiko in a statement. Recently, an eight-month pregnant woman was infused with HIV infected blood in Sattur GH and the incident created furore across the state. 

Vaiko said that he was shocked at the incident. He said that though several crores are allotted for health department every year, in the state budget, no steps are taken to improve the health infrastructure in the state. “Across the state, the condition of government hospitals remains the same and government should carry out investigation in the hospitals about the prevailing conditions. The blood banks in particular should be checked and the doctors should carefully check the blood before infusing it to other patients,” he demanded. He also urged the state to ensure that the woman is cured and the child is not infected.