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Mark Carter, Huddersfield bobby and Bradford resident - and of course Mr Gay UK 2006 - has launched a campaign to get more gay men to register as potential bone marrow donors.
The campaign follows a rule change by the Anthony Nolan Trust which is now allowing gay men to register as donors. Previously they had been excluded because it was believed that they were at higher risk of carrying blood-borne viruses, especially HIV. However they now positively welcome all gay men who are practising safe sex. They continue to ask all people. gay or straight. who are undertaking unsafe sexual practices to exclude themselves. Carter's campaign follows on from the battle of Huddersfield Examiner journalist Adrian Sudbury who has battled leukaemia for the last 18 months. He's set up his own website and his progress has been followed by Channel 5. Sudbury's treatment has now failed and he is using the remaining weeks of his life to campaign to get more people to register as potential bone marrow donors.
All of this contrasts strongly with the position of the National Blood Service who impose a blanket ban on all gay men from donating blood. This means that the most health-conscious gay man, who always practices safer sex and is regularly tested for HIV, is still excluded from donating to the service. It would appear to be a much more enlightened and sensible approach to focus on high-risk activity than on sexuality in health screening, and the change of attitude of the Trust is to be welcomed.
Readers wanting more details of registration should go to the website below.
John Rossington
Web: www.anthonynolan.org.uk
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