BY MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
Edo State Government has sealed a private hospital after it allegedly transfused a 19-month-old child with HIV-positive blood in Benin City, the State capital.
The State, through its ministry of Health swung into action to sealed the hospital, Safe Bliss Medical Centre located at 32, Ist Akugbe Lane, off Siluko Road, Oliha Quarters, Benin City was sealed last week following the scandal as reported by Alltimepost.com about a fortnight ago.
Findings revealed that the closure of the embattled medical facility followed the State government’s commencement of a full-scale investigation to unravel how and where the baby contracted the virus after clinical screenings confirmed his parents are HIV-negative.
When our reporter visited Safe Bliss Medical Centre on Monday, the apartment used as hospital was under lock and keys with seal sticker of Edo State Ministry of Health boldly pasted at the staircase door of the story building.
Attempts to obtain comments from the Chief Medical Director of the hospital failed.
Contacted, the Commissioner for Health, Edo State, Dr. Cyril Adams Oshiomhole said he was disturbed by Alltimepost.com report as he immediately ordered a probe into the issue.
He stated that preliminary investigation has revealed that the private hospital does not have the Edo State Ministry of Health’s approval to operate.
“When I read that story online immediately, I called my director of medical services, he went there. Unfortunately, that hospital is not registered with the Ministry of Health. Every hospital, whether private or government, is supposed to be registered with the Ministry of Health but that particular hospital did not register with the Ministry of Health.
“But from preliminary investigation we have carried out so far the story might not be correct that that hospital transfused HIV-positive blood to that 19-month-old child, but, the fact that the hospital does not have the Ministry’s license to operate, is another offence.
“We have not concluded our investigation yet. In fact, when I read that story I felt so bad, it could have been anybody’s child.” Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole said.
Recall that the father of the baby, Mr. Mumbor Praise 23, had alleged that Safe Bliss Medical Centre, Benin City infected his baby with HIV through blood transfusions earlier this year.
He stated that his 19-month-old son, Jeremiah was rushed to the hospital when he developed a high fever as the attending doctor diagnosed him with dangerously low blood levels and ordered a blood transfusion as part of emergency treatment.
According to Mr. Mumbor, Jeremiah underwent two separate blood transfusions at Safe Bliss Medical Centre. The first occurred on February 6, 2025, when the baby’s Packed Cell Volume (PCV) reportedly dropped to 15.
“I paid ₦40,000 for the blood because I didn’t want my baby to die. They transfused him twice, and after two days, he was discharged,” he narrated.
The second transfusion followed when the child fell ill again on May 5, 2025.
Mr. Mumbor said he initially offered to donate his own blood but was denied by the attending doctor.
However, Dr. Adesotu Humphrey of Safe Bliss Medical Centre said all clinical protocols for blood transfusion were painstakingly 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 as Safe Bliss Medical Centre gets its blood from a blood bank.
He however disputed the claim by Mr. Praise Mumbor that he was not allowed to donate blood to his son by a doctor on duty in the facility.
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