Distraught parents of a 19-month-old baby, Mumbor Jeremiah, who was allegedly infected with HIV through positive blood during transfusion at an hospital have petitioned the Edo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, demanding justice for their child.
The petition, signed by the baby’s father, Mr. Praise Mumbor, and obtained by our correspondent, detailed how the infant was admitted to Safe Bliss Medical Centre in Benin City, where he alleged that the hospital transfused his baby with blood tainted with HIV.
According to Mr. Mumbor, the incident has left the family in emotional turmoil, as they struggled to comprehend how such a life-altering error could occur in a professional medical facility.
Meanwhile, unconfirmed sources said that officials from the Edo State Ministry of Health have visited the hospital.
However, the Ministry has yet to officially comment on the purpose of the visit or its findings.
Attempts to obtain comments by our correspondent from the Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole also failed.
However, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Stanley Ehiarimwian assured that investigation would be carried out into the incident.
Meanwhile, the office of the Attorney General has acknowledged receiving the petition, but has not made a formal statement as of the time of filing this report.
In his account, the 23-year-old father said the family’s ordeal started when their son, Jeremiah, was admitted in the facility after suffering a high fever which the doctor on duty claimed had made his (Packed Cell Volume) PCV to drop to a critical level of 15, recommending a blood transfusion as part of emergency treatment.
“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?
“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.
“Again, on May 5, 2025 my baby was sick, we rushed him to the same Safe Bliss Medical Centre, the doctor also said my baby needed blood, I said I don’t have money and that I will donate blood for my baby. The doctor said no because the lab staff to screen my blood before transfusion had closed.
“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”, Mr. Mumbor narrated.
He said further that on May 19, 2025, the owner of the medical facility advised him to take his baby to another hospital for further treatment, which prompted him to approach Edo Specialist Hospital on Sapele Road, Benin City.
“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.
Howevee, Dr. Adesotu Humphrey of Safe Bliss Medical Centre said all clinical procedures needed for blood transfusion were observed before the transfusions were performed on the baby.
Dr. Adesotu further explained that the child tested negative for HIV in the facility before the blood transfusions, adding that the medical centre accessed its blood from a blood bank.
