FAMILY DEMANDS JUSTICE FOR 18-MONTH OLD SON WHO WAS INFECTED WITH HIV THROUGH BLOOD TRANSFUSION IN EDO PRIVATE HOSPITAL

A family in Edo State is seeking justice after their 19-month-old baby was allegedly infected with HIV through a hospital transfusion.

The parents of a 19-month-old boy named Mumbor Jeremiah have called on the Edo State Attorney General to seek justice for their son. They claim their baby was infected with HIV after being given contaminated blood during a transfusion at a private hospital in Benin City.

The boy’s father, Mr. Praise Mumbor, signed a formal complaint explaining that their child was admitted to Safe Bliss Medical Centre, where he was given blood allegedly carrying the virus. The family is now in emotional distress and struggling to understand how such a serious mistake could happen in a medical facility.

Sources said some officials from the state Ministry of Health have visited the hospital, although no official statement has been made regarding their purpose or any conclusions from the visit. Efforts to speak with the Commissioner for Health were unsuccessful, but the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Stanley Ehiarimwian, said an investigation would take place.

The office of the Attorney General has acknowledged receiving the family’s petition, though no public response has been made yet.

In his statement, the 23-year-old father shared that the situation began when their son developed a high fever on February 6, 2025. Doctors said the baby’s blood level (PCV) had dropped to 15 and he needed a transfusion immediately.

“My baby Jeremiah will mark his two years birthday on September 28 this year. He is our first child. I am sad and pained about what has happened to him. My wife and I don’t have HIV, how come he is now a carrier of HIV?” he asked.

He continued: “On February 6, 2025, my baby was sick, we took him to Safe Bliss Medical Centre where he was admitted. The doctor said my baby blood was very low and that we should buy blood (N40,000.00) for him, otherwise his veins would collapse.”

“I paid and they gave him the blood two times. After two days, he was discharged from the hospital.”

Later, on May 5, the baby became sick again and was taken back to the same hospital. This time, Mr. Mumbor wanted to donate blood himself to avoid another purchase, but was told the lab staff had already closed for the day and couldn’t screen his blood.

“I contacted my people, they sent me money, so I paid (N35,000.00) for the blood because I don’t want my baby to die. He was transfused, three days later, he was discharged,” he explained.

On May 19, the hospital’s owner reportedly advised Mr. Mumbor to seek more medical help elsewhere. He then took his son to Edo Specialist Hospital, where more tests were done.

“In Edo Specialist Hospital, they collected our blood samples, did many tests and we were later told that my baby is not SS but AS and he is HIV-positive,” he said.

Responding to the matter, Dr. Adesotu Humphrey from Safe Bliss Medical Centre claimed that all proper steps were followed before each blood transfusion. He also said the baby tested negative for HIV before receiving the transfusion, and added that the hospital got its blood from a recognized blood bank.

GwG