Gay men to be able to donate blood by August

Gay men should be able to donate blood by August while those who go abroad might not have to wait months to contribute to the reserves, as health authorities are investing in new equipment. The equipment screens blood to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections and will also test people for viruses they might have contracted from abroad. Gay men are currently prohibited from donating blood to prevent the transmission of HIV, which is disproportionately prevalent among such individuals. However, with the introduction of what is known as Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) equipment, men in a relationship with other men would be able to donate blood. Last year, Health Minister Chris Fearne had said that gay men will be able to donate blood by February this year. However, readers said they are still barred from giving blood. When contacted, a Health Ministry spokeswoman said that the equipment for NAT has been purchased and was currently awaiting delivery. This test would make it possible for certain diseases to be detected earlier, among them the HIV virus and the West Nile virus, she said. The spokeswoman added that following delivery and installation of the equipment, the...