Panel Formed to Probe HIV Infections Among Six Satna Children

The Madhya Pradesh government has formed a six-member panel to investigate the case of six children testing positive for HIV after receiving blood transfusions. The children, aged between three and 15 years, were found to be HIV-positive between January and May 2025, with authorities pointing to possible contaminated transfusions at the Satna district hospital and other facilities in the state. The panel, instructed to submit a detailed report within seven days, will be headed by Dr. Satya Awadhiya, Regional Director of the health department’s Rewa division.

The initiative follows an internal probe at the district level and a statement from the Deputy Chief Minister, who also holds the Health portfolio. He said the authorities are tracing potential donors and that action will be taken if negligence is found at any level. The six children are currently receiving treatment at the Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre under the guidance of central government agencies.

Officials say the state-level probe will trace donors and examine blood bank protocols. The number of potential donors being considered is reported to be around 350, with some affected children noted to have visited Jabalpur or private centers, making it premature to assign blame to any single facility. Medical experts emphasize that thalassemia patients require regular transfusions—often two to three times a month—so robust screening and traceability are critical to prevent such infections.

In parallel, a show cause notice has been issued to the nodal officer of the district hospital as part of the broader inquiry. While families await answers, authorities stress that the patients are under treatment and that the investigation aims to strengthen transfusion safety and restore public confidence in blood services across the state.

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