The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a report alleging three child patients caught HIV and 17 others are suffering with Hepatitis-C due to infected blood transfusion in Rajasthan.

‘We received some media reports that due to infected blood transfusion, three child patients of Thalassemia have caught up HIV and 17 are suffering with Hepatitis-C in Ummed Hospital at Jodhpur,’ a spokesperson for NHRC said.

The NHRC issued notice to the state’s Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, and directed him to provide a report within four weeks from the date of its receipt.

The patients relatives have alleged that the state government has not provided facilities for the Neutrophils test even after five months.

This test is necessary to diagnose infection in blood.

Neutrophils are a type of mobile white blood cells that capture foreign particles and bacteria.

‘The reports also alleged that a number of Thalassemia patients have become victim of infected blood transfusion in the past as well in the state,’ the spokesperson added.

The Commission observed that the contents of the media reports, if true, raise serious issue of violation of human rights of the child patients.

UNI