We welcome the announcement by the government and the NHS Blood and Transplant service lifting the unfair blood donation restrictions that disproportionately affected Black communities (Blood donation rules changed to attract more donors with rare subgroups, 11 October). These rules deterred people of African descent, or with African partners, from becoming blood donors. For too long, these people have been victims of blood donation rules that are discriminatory, perpetuate stigma and are not based on evidence.
What is important now is that there is clarity about the changes across the system, that healthcare professionals are brought up to speed and the changes are applied. The Department of Health and Social Care also needs to invest in awareness campaigns to ensure that people in the most affected communities are aware of the changes and that they can now exercise their right to donate much-needed blood and blood products.
Deryck Browne, Rev Jide Macaulay and Denis Onyango
One Voice Network
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