diff --git a/app/services/one_off/opensrp/deduplicators/for_immutable_entity.rb b/app/services/one_off/opensrp/deduplicators/for_immutable_entity.rb
index 943b79e9ce..bc2f425813 100644
--- a/app/services/one_off/opensrp/deduplicators/for_immutable_entity.rb
+++ b/app/services/one_off/opensrp/deduplicators/for_immutable_entity.rb
@@ -9,14 +9,30 @@ def initialize old_id, new_id, assoc = nil
         end
 
         def merge
-          old_patient.send(@association).each do |associated|
-            associated.patient = new_patient
-            associated.save!
+          if is_has_many?(@association)
+            old_patient.send(@association).each do |associated|
+              new_patient.send(@association) << associated.dup
+            end
+          else
+            old_patient.send(@association).each do |associated|
+              duplicate = associated.dup
+              duplicate.patient = new_patient
+              duplicate.save!
+            end
           end
 
           # return the old patient object for the chain
           old_patient
         end
+
+        private
+
+        def is_has_many? assoc
+          Patient
+            .reflect_on_all_associations(:has_many)
+            .map(&:name)
+            .include?(assoc)
+        end
       end
     end
   end