Re: Camp rivalry blamed for contaminated blood stocks

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum members,

This is in response to the message " Camp rivalry blamed for bad blood stocks

Death taint in gift of life - Amit Ukil. The Telegraph March 13, 2002. A

" competitive trend " among neighbourhood clubs and police stations in the

city to draw a greater number of blood donors at voluntary camps has left

the door open for 'bad blood' to enter blood banks. " (Moderator)

I think there are some dangerous statements in this note. First, to state

that the lower income group have more infection is wrong. The lower income

group is forced to test with all sentinel testing being done at government

hospitals. They also allow research since they have no choice or are given

money. The middle class prefers to lie about it and not allow proper research.

Second the idea that middle income group is less vulnerable is completely

incorrect since knowledge does not always translate to behaviour change.

The numbers of middle class that are dying of AIDS are hidden by the

private hospitals where they go for treatment. The true picture will come

out only when sentinel surveillance is done across all medical treatment

centares, private and government, in an unbiased way with only income

status indicated on the blood sample.

Sasi Kumar

E-mail: <undcpe41@...>

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