A Kenyan doctor based in the UK voiced his frustrations after he was barred from donating blood over stringent rules linked to his African wife.
Dr. Francis Githae questioned UK rules stipulated by the National Health Service which demanded his Kenyan wife be tested for HIV/AIDS despite the gynaecologist testing negative.
Another strict option for him to donate blood was a request to refrain from intercourse for three months.
NHS rules dictate that one cannot donate blood if a recent sexual partner may have been sexually active in parts of the world where HIV or Aids is common, including "most countries in Africa".
The doctor lamented that he has been married to his wife for seven years and urged the UK to review the laws as the country was in high demand for black donors.
"I am upset that because I am African and I have had intercourse with an African (my wife), I have been refused to donate blood until my wife goes for HIV testing. I wonder how many Africans will return with their partners in tow for them to be tested for HIV so that they can then be cleared to donate.
"Which other system in the world has "having wife tested" as a prerequisite? Even so, HIV knows no ethnic or geographical borders. You say that UK African donors are only 2% but erect nonsensical barriers when we come forward! Your guidelines need revising," Githae lamented.
NHS responded to the 38-year-old's grievance, stating that it will review his case.
Su Brailsford, an NHS consultant detailed that the rules for the donation were based on expert advice to minimise the risk to those receiving the blood.
"We recognise that a more individualised risk assessment approach could allow more people [like Dr Murĩithi] to donate safely. We are planning a detailed review of this policy which we hope to begin before the end of the year," Brailsford stated as quoted by BBC.
Githae noted that he desired all people being accommodated to donate blood and did not want to appear to be a troublemaker.
"I'm glad they are reviewing it, they need a more individualised approach," the Kenyan doctor added.
