KATH probes HIV blood

The Ashanti Regional Police Command is investigating a case in which a patient was reportedly issued with blood contaminated with the deadly HIV/AIDS Virus and Syphilis.

Authorities at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) are not happy with reports on social media that the contaminated blood was taken from KATH Transfusion Medicine Unit before it was issued to the patient at a private clinic.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of KATH, Kwame Frimpong, said even though the hospital has a track record of stringent blood testing protocols and maintains highest standards for blood safety, it wants the case to be thoroughly investigated by the police.

AIDS Blood Rumour

One Addo Kwabla Evans had posted on social media platforms that his sick mother, who required blood transfusion, was issued with a blood contaminated with HIV/AIDS and Syphilis.

He said the blood was taken from the KATH Transfusion Medicine Unit before it was eventually administered to her sick mother at Kean Health Center, a private medical facility, said to be located in Kumasi.

The damning report has triggered anxiety among residents of Kumasi and the entire country in general since everybody would one way or the other require medical care from KATH at a point.

KATH’s Response

Kwame Frimpong said management of the hospital had decided to form a five-man committee to get to the bottom of the matter.

“The Chief Executive has thus taken a very serious view of the report under reference and has consequently set up a five-member committee to investigate the matter to establish the veracity or otherwise of the allegation.

“The committee’s membership will, among others, include representatives from the National Public Health Reference Laboratory, the Ghana Police Service, the Food and Drugs Authority and the National Aids Control Programme to guarantee an independent investigation.”

Mr. Frimpong said considering the importance that management attaches to the case, KATH has also officially reported the matter to the police to further ensure the integrity of the investigations into the matter.

“For now, the case is just a rumour so the public should see it as such, management is confident that there was no wrongdoing on the part of KATH so the public should remain calm.

“It must be stressed that the allegation under reference is only based on alleged screening test done on the blood at a private clinic and not on confirmatory tests as required under the protocol for handling such cases, he said.