Positive Eye

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Issue: 141

Tainted Blood Campaign update.

On 23rd February Lord Archer of Sandwell presented the report of his two year long inquiry into the tragedy of contaminated blood and blood products. In the report he makes several recommendations, including adequate funding for the UK Haemophilia Society, a Statutory Haemophilia Committee that includes patient representation, and proper compensation for victims and their dependants. At last Lord Archer has addressed the issue of recognition for the widows and children along with those still surviving. This compensation, he said, “should be at least at the level previously awarded in Ireland”, nearly ten years ago. So far after thirty one days the Department of health have not responded.

Since the inquiry started the number of people who have lost their battle to this disaster has risen to over 2,000. This number includes two of the tainted blood committee, our friends, who we will miss intensely. They all died as a result of infections such as HIV and Hepatitis C and it was recently reported that thousands of haemophiliacs have also been exposed to vCJD; the human form of Mad Cow Disease, through their NHS treatment. Now after more than twenty five years of fear has passed, so another reign of terror has been bestowed on this small but shamefully treated community.

TaintedBlood (www.taintedlood.info) has recently added a petition to the Prime Minister’s Number 10 petition website. In less than a month the petition has gained 2874 signatures and is currently in 46th place out of a total of 4878 petitions. It urges the Government to implement Lord Archer’s recommendations in full. We believe it is imperative that the government acts swiftly and urgently. Our loved ones are currently dying at the rate of more than one a month without having any answers as to how this was allowed to happen. Without knowing whether their families will be made financially secure in the future. On one day alone, recently, there were two funerals, two widows and two grieving families, including seven children.

We would like to thank everyone at Positive Nation for their total support over these very testing and sometimes distressing times, along with all those who have continued their trust and belief in us at tainted blood. Change has to start somewhere with someone and you can be that person who makes the difference for all. Therefore may we ask you to continue your support and every community unite with us to help bring about change?

Please sign the on-line petition and then ask your friends, loved ones and colleagues to sign too.

Please help the campaign for justice for this group of people whom Lord Morris of Manchester once referred to as: ‘…this stricken community.’
www.petitions.number10.gov.uk/contaminated/

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