Haemophiliacs reject A.I.D.S. link

Press, 13 December 1985, Page 26

Haemophiliacs reject A.I.D.S. link

PA Wellington An educational campaign to remove any suggestion that A.I.D.S. and haemophilia are related will be mounted by the Haemophilia Society. In a statement which the secretary, Mr Tony Goodwin, said was part of the society’s education programme, concern was expressed that the news media and others continually suggested that haemophiliacs were a “high-risk group” in the A.I.D.S. epidemic. ‘'Such a classification is not only misleading but is patently incorrect,” Mr Goodwin said.

Acquired immune deficienty syndrome and haemophilia were not related, he said “We are more than satisfied with the blood screening of donors and the treatment of blood products which inactivates any A.I.D.S. virus that might be present.

“In New Zealand the integrity of the blood supply is the number one priority for the Blood Transfusion Service.”

The society said the World Federation of Haemophilia and its national member organisations had worked with the medical fraternity and researchers to minimise the chances of the spread of the disease via blood products since it was found there was a link between A.I.D.S. and blood transfusions in 1982.

It said that haemophiliacs were a well documented group, that had long received specialised medical care and had been educated about A.I.D.S. Their lifestyle continued to be a sensible one.

The society said haemophilliacs accepted that they were part of a risk group under the general classification ‘recipients of blood

transfusions and blood products.” “What they are no longer prepared to accept is that they are in the same high risk area as homosexuals and drug abusers. Haemophiliacs may become innocent victims of the disease; but their behaviour does not need changing. They do not deserve to be caught up in the stigma or prejudices associated with A.I.D.S. “Haemophiliacs do not show a higher incidence to A.I.D.S. - compared with the so called, normal population - because they are afflicted by haemophilia.” The society said that its world federation and its members had recently voted in favour of a resolution that health authorities, ministries of health and the news media be requested to desist from categorising the haemophiliac as a separate high-risk classification.