LARKANA: Three illegal blood banks have been sealed by a team led by Secretary Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority (SBTA) here on Monday.
The team conducted raids on Bukhari Blood Bank and Zulfiqar Blood Bank located on Jail Road and Murteza Blood Bank located on VIP road.
The team found the blood banks did not have the facility of a qualified pathologist. The decision for searching these banks and labs was taken in a high level meeting held in the Commissioner’s office here on Monday.
The meeting was presided over by Commissioner Inamullah Dharejo, while SBTA Secretary Dr. Zahid Ansari, Sindh AIDS Control Programme (SACP) Provincial Programme Manager (PPM) Dr. Younis Chachar, Medical Superintendent Chandka Medical College Hospital (CMCH) Dr Javed Ali Shaikh and others were part of it.
It was unanimously decided in the meeting that stern action must be taken forthwith against all unlawful blood banks and laboratories who are involved in spreading deadly diseases like Hepatitis and HIV/AIDS by selling unscreened blood.
It is worth adding here that recently 51 dialysis patients were detected HIV positive in the CMCH dialysis center, and the inquiry in this regard held private blood banks and labs responsible.
The inquiry was conducted by the PPM SACP and its report was submitted to Sindh’s Chief Minister who then ordered massive crackdown against such blood banks and labs.
Talking to reporters, Dr. Ansari said that unregistered blood banks and labs will be sealed and this action will continue till all such banks are eliminated.
Earlier, Dr. Ansari visited Kambar on Sundayand held a meeting with district administration, while conducted raids and sealed as many as 15 illegal blood banks and laboratories.
But not a single FIR was lodged against the owners under SBTA Act to prevent the emergence of the same in future. Meanwhile, SACP organized a blood screening camp in CMCH on Monday in which 162 people were screened but no HIV case was detected.
