REHOBOTH, DE – The Blood Bank of Delmarva announced today it will partner with CAMP Rehoboth to host a blood drive Nov. 11 in celebration of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) expansion of donor eligibility.
The FDA revised donor eligibility guidelines in August to conduct uniform screening procedures for each patient, regardless of gender or sexual identity.
A 1983 lifetime deferral protocol previously restricted gay and bisexual men from donating blood – in efforts to reduce the spread of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) at a time when testing was limited.
In 2015, this was changed to a 12-month deferral – restricting men who had sex with men within the last 12 months from donating blood. The deferral period was shortened to three months in 2020.
"This initiative follows in the founding vision of CAMP Rehoboth, which is neighbors helping each other in times of need,” CAMP Rehoboth Communications Manager Matty Brown said.
According to a press release, “CAMP Rehoboth is a nonprofit dedicated to creating safe communities where gender identity and sexual orientation are respected.”
Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, a professor of nursing at the University of Delaware, commented on the partnership’s impact.
“I commend CAMP Rehoboth and the Blood Bank of Delmarva for their determination and commitment to raising awareness, educating the public, and fighting for equity,” Hall-Long said. “When we have equity in our health systems, that’s how we ensure services are sensitive and responsive, relevant, and meet the needs so no one is left behind.”
The blood drive will take place Nov. 11 (Veterans Day) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Call 1-(888) 8-BLOOD-8 or visit the following link to schedule an appointment:
https://donate.bbd.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/9322
