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07/06/2010

Should gay men be allowed to donate blood? Does sex before sport affect performance? The Georgian Health System. And why women's groups improve the health of babies.

Should men who sleep with men be allowed to give blood? In most countries there’s a lifetime ban on any man who's ever had sex with a man from donating blood because of the risk they might have HIV. Students in Canada are boycotting blood donation drives in protest at what they say amounts to discrimination against gay men. And now HIV researchers writing in the Canadian Medical Association Journal are calling for the ban to be lifted. Professor Norbert Gilmore from the McGill Faculty of Medicine in Canada joins Ian Franklin, the Medical & Scientific Director of the National Blood Transfusion Service in Scotland to discuss the ban.

Fabio Capello, the England manager is limiting his players' access to their wives and girlfriends before and after matches. But does sex before a match affect performance on the pitch? Greg Whyte, Professor of Applied Sport & Exercise at Liverpool John Moores University explains.

In Georgia a new health insurance scheme has already been introduced to give people better access to health care. The government subsidises it and it costs just $15 a year. But as Angela Robson reports still 70% of Georgians have no insurance at all.

Around the world four million babies die every year before they are even a month old. New research out in the journal the Lancet shows that a surprisingly simple solution can make a difference – or at least it can in some places. And that simple solution is to set up women's groups. Professor Anthony Costello from the University College London Institute of Child Health has evaluated the impact of women’s groups in both India and Bangladesh

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Sun 13 Jun 2010 21:32GMT

Chapters

  • Should the ban in many countries on gay men donating blood be lifted?

    In many countries men who have sex with men aren’t allowed to donate blood. Some Canadian researchers are calling for the ban to be lifted.

    Duration: 07:21

  • Does sex before sport affect players’ performance?

    Fabio Capello has called for limited access for the England Squad to their wives and girlfriends during the world cup. Does sex before a match affect sporting performance?

    Duration: 05:05

  • The Georgian Health Care system, why are so few people covered?

    In Georgia a health insurance scheme has been introduced to give better access to health care. It costs $15 a year but 70% of Georgians have no insurance.

    Duration: 05:26

  • Why women’s groups in India improve the health of babies

    Professor Anthony Costello from University College London explains why the impact of women’s groups in India means improving the health of newborn babies.

    Duration: 07:52

Broadcasts

  • Mon 7 Jun 2010 09:32GMT
  • Mon 7 Jun 2010 14:32GMT
  • Mon 7 Jun 2010 19:32GMT
  • Tue 8 Jun 2010 00:32GMT
  • Sun 13 Jun 2010 21:32GMT

Podcast