The Social Concerns committee will be submitting a weekly paragraph to the bulletin & happenings to educate the congregation on this topic. Here is No. 1:
Did you know that well over 10% of men are banned for life from donating blood? In the 1980’s, when HIV/AIDs first became a problem, the FDA banned Haitians, intravenous drug users, and men who had had sex with another man from donating blood. However, the ability to detect HIV in blood donations has become very good. In 1990, Haitians protested their blanket exclusion from blood donations as racism, and Haitians were taken off this list. However, all men who have had sex with another man (even once) since 1977 are still banned for life from donating blood. Is that necessary for the safety of our blood supply? Since 1997, AABB (the American Association of Blood Banks) has advocated that this lifetime ban should be lifted. For more info, see http://www.aabb.org/Content/Members_Area/Members_Area_Regulatory/Donor_Suitability/bpacdefernat030906.htm …Why is the ban still in place? More next week …
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