“How Do We Carry This Burden Now? Thalassemia-Stricken Child Tests HIV Positive After Blood Transfusions at Satna District Hospital”

Satna: A devastating case has emerged from Satna District Hospital, where a young girl suffering from thalassemia has been found HIV positive, allegedly after repeated blood transfusions. The incident has shattered the life of her father, a daily-wage mason, who was already struggling to keep his child alive amid poverty and relentless medical expenses.

The child is one among six thalassemia patients at the hospital, of whom one has now tested HIV positive, raising serious questions about blood screening, hospital protocols, and patient safety.

Weekly Blood Transfusions, Daily Struggle

The 39-year-old father said nearly ten days of every month come to a standstill in his life as he runs between hospitals and blood banks for his daughter’s treatment. Due to thalassemia, the child requires blood transfusions every week—almost three units every ten days.

During this period, the father is forced to miss work, worsening the family’s already fragile financial condition. “If I don’t work, we don’t eat. But if I don’t take her for blood, she won’t survive,” he said, fighting back tears.

Thalassemia Diagnosed Four Years Ago

The father recalled that four years ago, after frequent illnesses, he took his daughter to Satna District Hospital. She was later referred to Jabalpur, where doctors diagnosed her with thalassemia. Since then, blood transfusions have become an unavoidable part of their lives.

Medicines Add to the Child’s Trauma

Adding to the family’s ordeal, the medicines prescribed to the child reportedly do not suit her. The father said she often vomits after taking them and has become withdrawn and fearful.

“She was already suffering so much. Now this has been added. We don’t know how to carry this burden anymore,” he said.

Questions Over Medical Safety

The incident has sparked outrage and concern over the safety standards of blood transfusion services in government hospitals. Health experts and activists are demanding a thorough investigation into the blood screening process and accountability for what could be a life-altering lapse.

This case is not just a medical failure—it is a human tragedy that highlights the unbearable cost paid by the poorest when systems fail.