3,413.51
Officials from theMinistry of Health and related organizations have denied rumors that 14
patients received transfusion of blood
from an HIV-infected donor. Among those who spoke to journalists were N.Khurelbaatar,
State Secretary of the Ministry; S.Tugsdelger, Chief of the Social Health
Policy Implementation Coordinating Board; S.Enkhbold, Chief of the Information
Control Research and Estimation Board; Kh.Surenkhand, Deputy Director of the
National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID); N.Gantumur, Chief of the HIV and AIDS Research and
Observation Office at the NCID; and P.Ulaankhuu, Chief of the National Center for Blood
Analysis.
They explained that tests had identified about two months ago that the blood
had the virus and it was never used. Journalists wanted to know why the donor’s
identity had not been revealed and why a donor’s health status is not checked
before taking blood. S.Tugsdelger said such public identification of an HIV-infected
individual is against national security, and also violated the law and human
rights.
P.Ulaankhuu said Mongolia has 83 recorded cases of HIV infection and this
particular donor is No. 80 and had tested positive in August. He has been
donating blood for three years and on every of the previous occasions, the
blood had been found safe. He assured media that equipment and practices
relating to blood transfusion in Mongolia followed international standards.
