KATH 'contaminated blood' claim: Investigations underway
The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi has set up a five-member committee to investigate an allegation of contaminated blood released from the blood bank of the hospital for transfusion to a patient in a private hospital in Kumasi.
One Addo-Kwabla in a post on Facebook had accused KATH of selling two units of blood to his mum who was receiving treatment at a private clinic in Kumasi and the blood tested positive for HIV and Syphilis.
Advertisement
The allegation, according to Addo-Kwabla was based on an initial screening of the blood units by the said private medical
He alleged that the two different blood bags from the hospital tested positive for HIV and Syphilis, at a time his mother was set to be issued the blood.
He said his mother had been sick for some months and the family had sought treatment at a private facility in Kumasi called the Kean Health Centre.
Ahead of one of his mother’s appointments at the health centre, she was asked to bring along some blood.
When the blood was brought along on the day of the appointment, “they took the blood and said they were doing tests. We sat waiting and later a lady came and told us the blood we had was contaminated; both of them. One had HIV and other had Syphilis,” Adolf Addo recounted in a radio interview with Accra based Citi FM.
Investigations
Following the allegation, the hospital authorities have taken up the matter and set up a committee to investigate the allegation.
The matter has also been reported to the police for investigations.
A statement dated Saturday December 1, 2018, signed and issued by Mr Kwame Frimpong, Public Relations Officer of KATH said the Chief Executive Officer of the hospital is taking the allegation “very serious,” and therefore the committee which has been set up was to help establish the veracity or otherwise of the allegation."
Below is a copy of the full statement issued by KATH on the matter:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KOMFO ANOKYE TEACHING HOSPITAL (KATH) MANAGEMENT’S PRESS STATEMENT ON THE ISSUANCE OF ALLEGED CONTAMINATED BLOOD TO A PATIENT
The attention of the Chief Executive of KATH has been drawn to a story circulating on social media about the issuance of alleged contaminated blood to a patient of private clinic in Kumasi.
The Chief Executive wishes to state that KATH HAS A TRACK RECORD OF STRINGENT BLOOD TESTING PROTOCOLS AND MAINTAINS THE HIGHEST STANDARDS FOR BLOOD SAFETY.
The Chief Executive has thus taken a very serious view of the report under reference and has consequently set up a five-member committee to investigate the matter to establish the veracity or otherwise of the allegation.
The committee’s membership will among others, include representatives from the National Public Health Reference
It trust be stressed that the allegation under reference is only based on
The issue has also been reported to the Ghana Police to further ensure the integrity of the investigations into the matter.
The Chief Executive, therefore, wishes to urge the patient and family to release the blood units in question to the investigating team or the Police for
The Chief Executive will like to urge the general public to remain calm as everything is being done to ensure a speedy investigation into the matter.
Thank you.
KWAME FRIMPONG
Writer's email: [email protected]