 |
| Blood Bags |
A new
statistic released by National Aids Control Organisation (NACO), about 276
people in Maharashtra were infected with HIV while getting a blood transfusion
over the last one and half years, ranking the state at a worrisome third
position.
2,234 people across
the country got transfused with HIV-infected blood in the same period, raising
serious concerns about blood safety.
Uttar Pradesh
recorded the maximum number of transfusion transmitted HIV cases at 361followed
by Gujarat at 292 cases. Delhi grabbed the fourth position with 264 cases.
Maharashtra has
recorded more than 1,239 such cases over the last six years. While activists
are alarmed with the findings, NACO insisted that the data is not a real
indicator as it is based on voluntary disclosure by clients at the integrated
counseling and testing centres (ICTC).
A senior NACO
official told Time of India "The numbers are self-reported. It's not
corroborated further by following up with blood tests. The overall situation is
actually much better now. In 1999, transfusion transmitted HIV was 15%, which
has now come down to less than 1%." The official added that the issue of
safe blood can be best addressed with an Act that most developed nations have.
The Maharashtra
State Aids Control Society said that most clients at the ICTC give a history of
blood transfusion even if they have indulged in unsafe sex or injecting
drugs."The fact is that at least 90% of HIV transmissions still occur
through sexual intercourse," said Dr Shobhna Tehra, joint director of the
society.
National Aids
Control Organisation (NACO) and the health ministry said in 2009-10 India
reported 2,711 such cases and the number of people affected with HIV due to
blood transfusion have reduced drastically over the past 15 years though the
government continues to aim for zero transmission.
The licenses of
Blood Banks must be canceled, if they fail to maintain the Quality. People
should buy blood with confidence and not with fear.
However, the government
maintained it is also working towards stringent blood safety screening and to
introduce technologies to ensure zero transmission. In India, NACO has been
primarily responsible for ensuring transfer of safe blood.
Read the full news
here: Time of India
