An RTI enquiry has revealed that 2234 cases of HIV transmission due to transfusion of contaminated blood have been registered in India between October 2014 and March 2016.
The National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) has released the details of blood contamination figures in response to an RTI query filed by activist Chetan Kothari.
The details reveal that many blood banks are flouting norms resulting in people contracting deadly diseases, a report in The Hindu says.
According to its latest annual report, NACO’s total blood collection was around 30 lakh units till September 2014. Nearly 84% of the donated blood units came from voluntary blood donation, which seem to be the source of the problem, according to Naresh Goyal, Deputy Director General, NACO.
NACO also claims that Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of HIV transmission cases at 361 followed by Gujarat which is second with 292 cases.
The law mandates that donors/donated blood should be screened for transmissible infections of HIV, HBV and Hepatitis C, malaria and syphilis.
NACO’s 2015 annual report had stated that the total number of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIVs) in India was estimated at around 20.9 lakh in 2011. Nearly 86% of these patients are in the 15-49 age-group.
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