HIV/AIDS blood donation

The Malaysian government is planning to jail people who have HIV/AIDS that donate blood.

To tell you the truth, the first thing that came to mind when I heard this news on The Star article was, gee... wouldn't I be worried if I ever needed to get blood tranfusion from the hospital?!

You see, the government has always been publicizing the public to donate blood as the the national blood bank is dangerously low on blood stock. I for one am a blood donor and I think it is a very charitable and humane thing to do. It is also healthy as you "dispose" your old blood and keep your marrows churning out new blood cells; this is supposed to be healthy. Unfortunately, many people are not aware of that.

Back to the point, by publicizing jail sentences to those who have HIV/AIDS and donate blood, wouldn't that tell you that the blood collection guys are not checking thoroughly the blood that has just been donated for diseases, viruses or any harmful substance in it?! Logic tells me that when one donates blood, it is also the authorities' responsibility to inform the donor that they have found something wrong with the blood. And when that is found out, that blood will be disposed of responsibly. Let's say a person who does not know that he/she has HIV/AIDS and donates blood; he/she will be jailed because he/she didn't realize it! In a way, it brings fear to the public and that doesn't promote blood donating at all.

Yesterday's Dinner: Eggplant, shrimp omelette, and roast pork in soy sauce (i think)