Big words when refusing gay blood donors
Internationally, men who have sex with men are banned by the Red Cross and blood banks from donating blood, but in Thailand, the Aids Access Foundation and the Thai Transgender Alliance call that "discrimination" and "violation of human rights."
After three young people criticized the Thai Red Cross in a clip on YouTube, even more criticism erupted. So much so Bangkok Post pulls out half the front page for it.
Both organizations think it is not right that the Red Cross excludes 'risk groups', but it should screen for 'risk activities'. Red Cross staff should spend more time talking to donors and determining whether they have engaged in high-risk activities.
Director Soisaang Pikulsod of the National Blood Center says that internationally MSM (men who have sex with men) is considered a group with a high risk of infection with HIV and hepatitis. “So for the sake of recipient safety, the Red Cross has to be strict. We must protect them from any risk of infection.'
Soisaang also points out that someone can be tested HIV-negative before the antibodies develop. That blood also poses a risk. Infected blood can be passed on to three people because it separates into plasma, red corpuscles and platelets.
In Bangkok, 375.496 people donated blood last year. Nationally, 2 percent of the donated blood is infected with HIV or hepatitis and almost all that blood comes from homosexuals. The Ministry of Health announced in December that the infection rate among gays rose by 1987 percent between 2011 and 11 and is still rising.
(Source: Bangkok Post, March 9, 2013)
It's still strange that this policy is there. Indeed it WAS the case in “the western countries” (USA and Europe) that HIV was more common in gays than in straights, but that is no longer the case. Furthermore, the number of infections in Africa is (almost) equal (gays / straights) and that also applies to many other areas in the world (look at Asia including Thailand and eg Russia and other Eastern European countries). By moving very large groups of people (eg because they are on holiday) I dare to say that it is really discrimination to exclude gays. ONE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THE SEXUAL BEHAVIOR OF HUMANS IN GENERAL !! . If I only look at Thaialnd then I see no difference in the number of gays who are infected with the number of straights (Isaan). In Khon Kaen we recently had a nice get-together in the sports complex there (yes, so many are infected here; it was quite full) for HIV patients and I really couldn't see that the majority consisted of gays. The village where I live and the villages around my village also have more hetero infections than gay infections.
Conclusion : I think it is a prejudice that has long since been superseded . Let this also be a warning to all straight people; the number of hetero-infections in Thailand (and the rest of Asia) is very high compared to the Netherlands, for example, but the number of hetero-infections is also increasing alarmingly there.
Roja, I can understand your train of thought. But as someone who has received blood from other people 3 times, and then it's really not about 1 bag at a time, I think you should rule out any chance / uncertainty. Every time I have been very afraid of other people's blood. Got it after an accident and also after major surgery.
When I read that 2% of the blood in Thailand is infected and for the most part comes from people from the MSM group, your story is not correct.
I have also donated blood in the Netherlands. heterosexuals with many changing contacts were also excluded.
Donating blood is good, but if the blood is contaminated you can kill your fellow man!!!!
Dear Mr. Ruud; I know what I am talking about as Acting Chief of Cardiology with many post-operative patients. I understand your fear, but unfortunately the straights are not fairer than the gays and the gays – who are in a relationship – are just as “monogamous” as the straight. In fairness there is no difference between gay and straight; unfortunately not in behavior either. I stand by my opinion that it is an advantage; without defending or excluding any group. Unfortunately, both contain at-risk donors. And as far as Thailand is concerned, I do volunteer work – (as in many other places in the world) and interact with patients on a very regular basis. That is also why I have a real situation of what is happening here and elsewhere.
Moderator: I have adjusted the use of capital letters. Using capitals is against our blog rules because it is tantamount to yelling.