Family wants Bt5m for girl who got HIV

Earlier, the Yala Provincial Hospital had offered about Bt400,000 compensation, plus free medical treatment for the girl throughout her life.

It is believed the girl may have caught the disease from donated blood because there is always risk in the "window period" before donors' blood is tested and when people receive blood.

The girl's uncle, Noppadon Prangthong, 36, went to the Health Ministry yesterday to submit a letter to Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai.

Surachet Wae-arsae, the assistant minister, accepted the letter on Witthaya's behalf.

"We will assign the ministry's Centre for Peace in Healthcare to look into this case," he said.

Noppadon said the initial offer by the Yala Provincial Hospital was inadequate when considering what his niece had suffered and would endure.

"If the ministry won't give us justice, we will turn to courts," he said.

Noppadon said the ministry should also dispatch officials to the girl's hometown and educate locals about Aids.