If You Lived In France (Or Africa), You Can’t Donate Blood In Lebanon

Clement Nadim Zakhia gives this account:

So there I was at AUH watching the blood flow from my arm into a plastic bag, when a nurse started chatting with me, and asked if I was of French origin. Yes, I proudly declared. Have you lived in France for more than five years since the 1980s, she then asked, her voice turning serious. When I again said yes, she shouted, “We can’t take this blood,” and immediately removed the IV.

The same thing happened with me in 2006 when I wanted to donate blood for the south. I stood in line for at least one hour and then the nurse told me she can’t take my blood because I was raised in Africa.

In both cases, we weren’t warned in advance, but at least I kept my blood.

PS: Clement, they don’t call it AUH anymore. The new official name is AUBMC, and the staff over there will make sure to remind you of that over and over.