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Blood donors threaten to call it quits
December 03, 2004, 16:30
Some blood donors are threatening to stop donating their blood after the South African National Blood Services (SANBS) revealed its policy of racially profiling donors. The SANBS said yesterday that in accordance with international guidelines it categorises blood donors on race to reduce the risk of transmission of HIV and Hepatitis.
Just this week, the SANBS sent out a desperate call for more blood as the festive season kicks in. They need more than 2 000 units of blood per day. However, in the past month only about 800 units were donated countrywide. With this furore their blood banks could be dealt a serious blow. Some like Lerato Dikobe, a doctor, who has been donating since 1994, are considering never going back. This after they heard that black people's blood is considered high risk.
The SANBS says racial profiling is necessary to reduce the risk of HIV transmission. It says according to the World Health Organisation guidelines and the Blood Transfusion policy in South Africa, blood is not collected from population groups with high prevalence of HIV and other transmissible diseases. First time black and coloured donors fall under the high risk category because of the high prevalence of HIV in the African community.
SANBS Medical Director Dr Robert Crookes...
Udo Schuklenk, a bio-ethics and human rights expert, says rejecting black people's blood does not make sense as they are in the majority in South Africa. He says though he is ethically sympathetic to their need to provide safe and clean blood, they do not have any scientific proof for the profiling.
The first ever national representative study on HIV prevalence by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) found that the prevalence rate among Africans is highest with 12.9%. Whites and coloureds have closely similar prevalence 6.2% and 6.1%. The figure for Indians is 1.6%.
The researchers raised concern that the white prevalence rate is high compared to other countries such as Australia, France and the USA, where the prevalence among whites is 1% or less.
Clive Evian, an HIV and Aids management consultant, has endorsed the SANBS's stance, saying it makes sense.
Efforts to reach the World Health Organisation (WHO) were unsuccessful, but their website says the first step in reducing the risk of transmission of infectious diseases through blood is to select volunteers from low-risk populations who give blood on a regular basis. However, it goes on to say even with the most careful selection, some donors will test positive for HIV or other infectious agents.
Therefore, rigorous screening of all donated blood is required to ensure the safety of the blood supply. As the furore continues, some have argued that the SANBS has handled the matter irresponsibly.
The health ministry has asked for an urgent meeting saying there is no scientific proof on prevalence rates. Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, the health minister, said it smacks of racism. Tshabalala-Msimang has called for a meeting with SANBS.
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