Officials scamper to screen villagers as local blood donor dies of HIV

30 people tested as health officials trace blood recipients in Badin

KARACHI:

Over two dozen villagers have been screened for HIV after the death of a 35-year old rickshaw driver in a remote area of Badin district.

*G Mallah, a resident of Faqeer Mohammad Nohrio located some 7km from Tando Bago city, was brought to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) from Hyderabad in serious condition and died during treatment on Saturday.

He was shifted from Indus Hospital in Badin to Hyderabad some two weeks ago and was referred to JPMC two days prior to his death.

The death certificate issued by the JPMC, which is available with The Express Tribune, confirms the patient died due to HIV-related complications. After the results, district health authorities scampered to the village and screened his five children, wife and other relatives. During the visit, they learnt that G had donated blood to at least five to six individuals.

"A medical team is on it and trying to screen those who were in his contact," Dr Sher Nohrio, the district health officer confirmed to The Express Tribune.

He said that at least 30 people had been screened in the village. "We have to wait for the final reports," he added, saying the team was also tracing individuals who had received blood donated by the deceased.

"He was not aware of his disease," a local resident Anwer Abbasi said. He added there was fear and concern among villagers after the news that G's death was caused by HIV.

"G had told his family about blood donation in last one and half year," Abbasi said. Sources in the district health department said that the medical team will screen more suspected cases in coming days.

Dr Haroon Memon, the former focal person for the district's HIV/AIDS programme told The Express Tribune that laboratories were responsible to conduct the required tests, including screening all blood donors for HIV and hepatitis.

He added that professional blood donors were discouraged after the establishment of the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority.

"There are chances that some hospitals and laboratories are not conducting proper screening of blood donors," he said when asked how G could have donated blood.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18^th, 2023.