Parents face suspension from church over blood transfusion on child

Goaso (Brong Ahafo) - Intervention by Asunafo District office of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) saved the life of a six-month old anaemic patient, whose parents denied him blood transfusion on the ground of their faith.

The medical officer in-charge of the Goaso Government Hospital directed that Harrifat Yaw Ababio be given blood transfusion. But the little boy's parents, Kwabena Adu-Gyamfi and Akosua Nsiah, who belong to the Saviour Church (Gyidi) in Kwapong, said they would not allow it.

Mr Oman Mprah, Asunafo District Director of the Commission, told the Ghana News Agency that Mr Seth Boadu, the hospital's administrator, brought the child and his parents to his office last Wednesday to make a formal complaint. He said after a quick investigation, the commission ordered the hospital to give the child blood transfusion against the wish of his parents.

He added that an accompanying elder of the church however, stated that the parents would be suspended for allowing their child to receive blood transfusion. According to him in spite of the threat, the parents, who were educated about the rights of the child, later on donated their own blood for their boy. He said Ababio is responding well to treatment after the blood transfusion and warned parents not to trample on the rights of their children.

Parents who cause the death of their innocent children through such wilful decisions would be made to face the full rigours of the law, he warned. Mr. Mprah commended the Goaso hospital administrator for his right judgement by reporting the issue to CHRAJ