Five children test HIV-positive after transfusions in Jharkhand
In a serious health incident at Chaibasa in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district, five children suffering from thalassemia have tested positive for HIV after receiving blood transfusions. According to state health officials, a seven-year-old child first flagged the issue after testing positive on October 18; a subsequent investigation found four more children in the same condition.
What happened
The children are patients at the district hospital complex in Chaibasa and undergo frequent transfusions as part of thalassemia treatment. The alleged source of infection is a blood bank linked to the hospital, where screening and safety protocols may have failed. A medical team sent from Ranchi discovered multiple irregularities in the blood-bank operations and laboratory process.
Government response
Hemant Soren, the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, ordered the suspension of key health officials including the district civil surgeon and the blood-bank in-charge. The government also announced financial assistance of ₹2 lakh for each affected family, along with free medical treatment for the children.
Ongoing probe & implications
Investigators are analysing whether contaminated blood was transfused or if other factors contributed to the infections. Early findings point to deficiencies in the protocol at the facility. The incident has raised alarm over blood-transfusion safety, especially among vulnerable patients like those with thalassemia who regularly receive transfusions. Authorities have mandated the blood bank to function only as an emergency service until standards are restored.
Wider concerns
Given the grave nature of the lapse, the precedent it sets is worrying: such failures could erode patient trust and endanger lives. The episode highlights the need for rigorous oversight of blood-bank systems, especially in rural and semi-urban healthcare settings. Families of affected children will watch closely whether promises translate into real medical and financial relief.
