KZBlog

The devil is in implementation. In searching for other HIV blood donor issues in Kazakhstan (I will admit that I am personally a little scared as someone who has been to the hospital here on a few occasions), I found Summary of Fact Finding Mission, by Maitland J. “Aaron” Peak – Peak Options Consulting on health care in Karaganda and Almaty.

The president decreed that at-risk groups, such as blood donors, sexual or drug using partners, IDUs, CSWs, MSMs, STD patients, people who travel abroad for more than three months, and blood recipients, would have compulsory HIV testing. A few other categories, such as at-risk pregnant women and orphans, are tested. Anyone who wants an HIV test can obtain one anonymously. (Ref. 8)

So much for that promise. I remain bothered that Khabar and Channel 31 show the Prime Minister and other officials saying that they will get to the bottom of this and punish whoever did it and so on, but I don’t hear what they are doing to ensure that it never happens again, and to find out how many people may be infected.