After attending Mandela’s memorial, Knesset member’s blood rejected in gov’t drive because she is African

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I have reviewed the thread at the request of the moderator involved and agree that the warning was not necessary. The topic concerns a reported media story about political action in a foreign country and as such does not violate the Terms of Service.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

I don't see what is wrong until about a year ago the US Red Cross also didn't accept blood from Africans or the sexual partners of Africans ( due to a strain of HIV common there that was not detectable by the methods used at the time )

[sandinista! 1,816]

Africa is a continent, not a country, and Ethiopia is not known to harbor type O HIV that's more difficult to detect. My African husband was never prohibited from donating blood due to undetectable HIV and neither have I. Type O is largely limited to west and central Africa.

Edited December 13, 2013 by sandinista!

[Sarah Elle-Même 660]

The US also has a prohibition on blood donated by certain groups - mainly homosexual males or people who have been to Sub-Saharan Africa within the last 5 years. I've seen convincing arguments for why these prohibitions should be in place and convincing arguments for lifting them. At the very least I don't see why Israel can't change their policy to be that anyone who traveled to Africa within a certain time frame can't donate blood, but after that time has passed they will be treated no differently than any other citizen. Problem is, not treating citizens fairly or equally is part of policy: http://www.salon.com/2013/01/28/israel_admits_ethiopian_jewish_immigrants_were_given_birth_control_shots/

Edited December 13, 2013 by Sarah and Adnan

[luckytxn 2,264]

Thank you.

I have reviewed the thread at the request of the moderator involved and agree that the warning was not necessary. The topic concerns a reported media story about political action in a foreign country and as such does not violate the Terms of Service.