Health
Infected Blood Scandal: 10 Things to Know as Death Toll Surpasses 30,000
The Infected Blood Scandal stands as a tragic chapter in medical history, marked by profound human suffering, institutional failures, and a quest for justice and accountability. More than 30,000 people, including children, were infected with viruses such as HIV and hepatitis after being given tainted blood between the 1970s and early 1990s.
A bombshell report released Monday found that the tainted blood affair was covered up by successive governments and health officials and largely could have been avoided. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak issued a “wholehearted and unequivocal” apology and promised compensation for everyone affected.
Key Points to Know About the Infected Blood Scandal
1. Scope and Impact
The scandal unfolded in the 1970s and 1980s when thousands of patients in the United Kingdom were infected with HIV and hepatitis C through contaminated blood products. It’s estimated that over 4,000 people were affected, many of whom were haemophiliacs or received blood transfusions.
2. Contaminated Blood Products
The primary cause of the scandal was the use of blood products sourced from high-risk donors, including prisoners, drug users, and paid donors. These products were not properly screened for infections, leading to widespread transmission of HIV and hepatitis C.
3. Haemophilia Community Impact
Haemophiliacs were disproportionately affected due to their reliance on blood products for clotting factor replacement therapy. Many were infected with HIV and hepatitis C, leading to severe illness, premature death, and significant psychological trauma for patients and their families.
4. Government Involvement
Government agencies and health authorities were implicated for their role in the procurement, regulation, and distribution of contaminated blood products. Criticisms include negligence, inadequate safety protocols, and a lack of transparency and accountability.
5. Delayed Response
Despite early warnings and evidence of contamination, authorities failed to take timely action to address the risks and protect patients. Delays in implementing screening measures and withdrawing contaminated products exacerbated the spread of infections and contributed to the scale of the tragedy.
6. Campaign for Justice
Survivors, families of victims, and advocacy groups have long campaigned for justice, accountability, and compensation. Their efforts have led to inquiries, legal proceedings, and calls for government apologies and reparations.
7. Inquiry and Investigations
In 2017, the United Kingdom launched the Infected Blood Inquiry, a public inquiry tasked with examining the causes, scale, and impact of the scandal. The inquiry aims to uncover the truth, hold accountable those responsible, and provide closure and support to affected individuals and communities.
8. Medical and Ethical Failures
The scandal exposed systemic failures in the healthcare system, including inadequate regulation, ethical lapses, and a disregard for patient safety. It raised questions about medical ethics, informed consent, and the responsibility of healthcare providers to prioritize patient welfare.
9. Legacy and Lessons
The legacy of the scandal endures as a reminder of the human cost of negligence and incompetence in healthcare. It underscores the importance of robust safety protocols, transparency, and accountability in medical practice and public health policy.
10. Ongoing Impact
Despite decades having passed since the scandal, its impact continues to reverberate within affected communities. Many survivors still grapple with health complications, stigma, and the emotional toll of their experiences. Efforts to address the long-term needs of survivors and provide support and redress remain ongoing.
Health
Nigerian man becomes fourth person worldwide to get cured of HIV
By Francesca Hangeior.
A Nigerian man, Salisu Ahmed, has opened up on how he lived with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus for 31 years.
In a recent interview with reality star, Doyin David, Ahmed disclosed that he contracted the virus after his first extramarital affair.
The 66-year-old shared the challenges he faced, including the stigma of being denied access to shared facilities, losing his teaching job, and being abandoned by his wife and children.
“I am Salisu Ahmed, I have been living with this virus for 31 years. The first experiment of going outside my matrimonial home is how it happened. It has been proven that about 85 to 90 per cent of people living with HIV contracted this thing through sexual intercourse.
“I was denied the use of the bathroom of the compound, I was not allowed to access the toilet, I was formerly a teacher so I was asked honourably to stop coming to the school.
“She packed everything including the children at home, they left me,” he stated.
He was cured of HIV following a stem cell transplant.
According to a statement from the City of Hope Medical Center in the US, where the procedure was performed, the man entered remission after discontinuing antiretroviral therapy.
The centre noted that the patient became the fourth person in the world, and the oldest, to achieve long-term remission from HIV after receiving stem cells from a donor with a rare genetic mutation.
Health
READ about indicators that you maybe having liver related problems
The liver is an organ that sits just under the rib cage on the right side of the abdomen.
It can weigh up to 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms).
The liver is needed to help digest food, rid the body of waste products and make substances, called clotting factors, that keep the blood flowing well, among other tasks.
If there are symptoms of liver disease, they may include:
*Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, called jaundice. …
*Belly pain and swelling.
*Swelling in the legs and ankles.
*Itchy skin.
*Dark urine.
*Pale stool.
*Constant tiredness.
*Nausea or vomiting.
If you’re experiencing these symptoms please see your doctor.
Health
Benue records 20 suspected cases of Mpox, four confirmed
Benue state government said it has recorded 20 suspected cases of Mpox with four of the cases confirmed.
The State Epidemiologist, Dr Asema Msuega, who disclosed this to newsmen on Thursday in Makurdi, said three of the cases have been treated and discharged while the fourth case was just confirmed last week Friday, September 6, 2024.
He said “For this year up-to-date, we have 20 suspected cases of Mpox and four confirmed cases in Benue State.
“Initially, we have three confirmed cases that were treated and discharged from isolation center, the fourth case was just confirmed last week Friday from the reference laboratory.”
According to him, the fourth patient who is still in isolation is receiving treatment and responding well.
He said the confirmed cases are from two local government areas of the state including Makurdi and Gwer West adding “But for the suspected cases, they cut across five local government areas of the state; Ushongo, Kastina-Ala, Gboko, Makurdi and Gwer West.
“The most recent is from Gwer East which sample we have sent to the laboratory and awaiting result before the end of this week.”
Msuega who stated that many of the suspected cases have also come out of isolation, explained that “it’s not every case that we take to hospital for isolation, we advised some to self isolate at home just like we were doing during the outbreak of COVID-19.”
He said the patients are being treated at the isolation center of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) the government is carrying out massive awareness campaigns to educate people about the disease and to imbibe basic prevention and control measures including washing of hands, avoiding unnecessary contacts with people, especially suspected person.
While harping on early detection and reporting, Msuega urged the Benue public to report suspected cases to appropriate authorities especially the nearest health centres, be it primary, secondary or tertiary health centres.
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