Father Accuses Edo Hospital of Infecting Son With HIV Through Contaminated Blood Transfusion

A devastated father, Praise Mumbor, has accused Safe Bliss Medical Centre in Benin City, Edo State, of infecting his 1-year-9-month-old son, Jeremiah, with HIV through a contaminated blood transfusion.

The incident reportedly began on February 6, 2025, when Jeremiah, previously HIV-negative, was rushed to the hospital with dangerously low blood levels. Mumbor said he offered his blood, but doctors declined, citing the urgency of the case and lack of testing personnel. He paid ₦40,000 for donor blood from a bank, and the transfusion was carried out immediately.

Initially thought to be a life-saving procedure, the event spiraled into tragedy. In May 2025, after repeated bouts of illness and two transfusions, Jeremiah was referred to Edo Specialist Hospital where doctors diagnosed him as HIV-positive. Shocked, the parents underwent tests at Central Hospital, confirming both were HIV-negative.

“When the doctors asked if our son had received a blood transfusion, it all became clear,” Mumbor said.

The father reported the case to the Ministry of Justice and confronted the hospital while pretending to be accompanied by a government lawyer to gauge their reaction. Despite multiple summons by the Ministry of Health, the hospital’s owner evaded personal appearance until the third attempt.

Eventually, the family turned to the police and filed a formal report. The hospital owner showed up at the station with a legal team and the lab owner who allegedly provided the blood. Statements were taken from all parties.

“My son will now live with HIV for the rest of his life because of a hospital’s recklessness. All I want is justice,” the father said.

Human rights activist Comrade Glory Omonigho called the incident a “public health emergency” and urged the Edo State Ministry of Health and relevant agencies to act swiftly. He confirmed the hospital had been sealed for operating without a valid license.