Deadly blood transfusions

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A news agency reported sometime ago that the blood of four persons was tested and found positive for HIV/AIDS in Rajshahi. The more shocking and worrying aspect of the finding is that only one of these carriers of HIV/AIDS was brought under some form of supervision by a private health service provider while the rest three seemed to be at large. The concern generated from this report must be quite a lot because all four are professional blood sellers and at least three of them were enjoying full liberties and carrying on their professional activities and infecting, thus, many in the process.
Not only this incident, other reports seen in the press from time to time, have been noted for putting into focus the threat to public health from transfusion of unscreened blood obtained from the so-called blood banks. The blood banks are many in number throughout the country and these are largely privately owned though conditions are no better in the publicly operated ones. Blood without any screening for HIV/ AIDS, hepatitis B and C, malaria, etc., is freely drawn from the professional blood sellers and transfused without a care to the unknowing or unsuspecting buyers. Thus, the blood banks are playing a major role in spreading serious infectious diseases and deaths when, ironically, they should render a service in saving lives.
No time should be lost in taking law enforcement measures to stop the deadly blood transfusions.
Manzoor Morshed Ahmed
Rankin Street
Dhaka