Re: In blast times, eunuch goes to donate blood, is turned away

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

Re: /message/9417

This is in response to the news that a eunuch was refused to donate blood.

As a protocol, before a person donates blood, history is obtained to check for

the donor's high risk behaviour and it is expected that whatever history he/

she has given is nothing but truth.

The same should have been followed in the said case and blood accepted.

A healthy donor is what matters and not the sex of the person. This is a  clear

case of discrimination and the blood bank employees need counseling for this to

avoid repeating such mistakes in future.

Dr. Divya Mithel

e-mail: <d_mithel@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

Re: /message/9417

We all must appreciate the sentiments and the gesture of the potential voluntary

donor of blood at the hour of crisis.

At the same time it would not be fair to jump to a conclusion as there are

definite and valid reasons for deferral of donors based on donor scrutiny to

ensure safety of blood as well as safety of blood donor. Many donors are often

refused to donate because of myriad reasons and this could have been one such

case.

Let us all promote voluntary blood donation by increasing the donor base.

Many women have haemoglobin less than 12.5 gm debarringng them temporarilyly

from donating blood.

In Gujarat we have women donors who have donated for more than 100 times. As a

matter of fact 100 plus women donors who have donated more than 10 times will be

felicitated on 1st October-National Voluntary Blood Donation Day.

Best wishes,

R.Gopal.

Dr. Rajesh  Gopal,MD

Joint  Director,

Gujarat  State  AIDS  Control  Society (GSACS),

O/1 Block, New  Mental Hospital  Complex,

Meghaninagar,Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

PIN 380016 Phone (O) 079-22680211--12--13,22685210 Fax 079-22680214

e-mail: <dr_rajeshg@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

Re: /message/9417

I fully agree to Dr. Divya Mithel's this statement, " A healthy donor is what

matters and not the sex of the person " .

But how do the members of the community agree to this?

I agree there is so much propaganda about voluntary blood donation but does it

include the issue of eunuchs in it? There are incidences where a eunuch was not

even allowed to use a public toilet and she defecated in public, leave alone

being denied to donate blood.

The stigma associated with them is so high that it can be eliminated only

through education. The media also should take up the Responsibility in doing so.

The government should make initiatives to

include myths and facts about eunuchs and their sexual behavior in sex education

curriculum.

Abigail Divya

e-mail: <abigaildivya@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

Re: /message/9417

Blood donor retention is poor in India, one of the main reasons for this the

indifferent behaviour of health care staff and lack of recognition of donors.

Consequentially, donors who satrt in college time, lose interest and stop

donating. Thus a screened healthy donor is lost.

Instead on focussing on donor retention prgrammes, we try to compensate by

recruiting new donors from colleges who are a captive group and thus easier to

contact.

 

Not undermining the importance of new donor recruitment, we need to

develop research and interventions on increasing healthy donor retention.

 

Morevoer donor screening at first contact should be utilised as an opportunity

for comprehensive health promotion intervention. Anaemic persons could eb

counselled regarding diet, offered Iron Tablets at the blood bank itself. They

should be told their Blood Group even if they are not fit to donate, which will

encourage them to return later.

 

--

Dr RK Sood

e-mail: drrksood@...

+91 9418064077, +91 9445157327