S. African blood service body apologizes to president for infringing dignity

The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) on Friday unconditionally apologized to President Thabo Mbeki for infringing his dignity and that of his office.

Reverend John Pender-Smith, chairman of the SANBS board of directors said in a statement: "the breakdown of procedures to protect the confidentiality of donor and medical information which was inappropriately released to the press is deeply regretted."

According to an earlier report, blood donated by Mbeki in public awareness drives for the blood transfusion service has routinely been incinerated because he is black.

SANBS further apologized for infringing the dignity of any person or blood donor for having used race as part of its risk management program.

Pender-Smith said that SANBS would continue to fulfill its mission to provide all patients with sufficient, safe, quality blood products and medical services related to blood transfusion, in an equitable and cost-effective manner.

The organization appealed to blood donors to continue donating blood regularly and ensure a "safe and sufficient" blood supply. When donating blood, all blood donors would be informed about how their blood was to be processed and used.

On Dec. 2, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang labeled the blood profiling of donors by the SANBS as "racism."

Tshabalala-Msimang said she should have been consulted, adding that "it (HIV/AIDS) is much more prevalent among Africans and therefore we are not going to take blood from the Africans ... it smacks of racism."

Departmental spokesman Sibani Mngadi noted: "While blood safety is critical in the provision of quality health care, we cannot accept any forms of racism in the provision of health services."

"If there has been any form of racism, the department will take decisive action to ensure that this is rectified," he emphasized.

South Africa abolished the apartheid rule in 1994 as the first black president Nelson Mandela came into power during the first non-racial general elections in the country.

Of the total population of 46 million, the black Africans account for 79 percent; white, 9.6 percent; colored, 8.9 percent.

Source: Xinhua