Cancer association, SABMR call for donor diversification
The chances of finding a bone-marrow or stem-cell donor are one in 100 000, while as an African or person of colour, this can jump up to one in 400 000.
This according to Zaahier Isaacs from the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR), who emphasised the urgent need for donor diversity.
In line with Cancer Awareness Week, the Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN) on Tuesday announced a partnership with SABMR, which will enable eligible Namibian citizens between the ages of 16 and 45 to register as stem-cell donors.
SABMR is the only World Marrow Donor Association-accredited registry in Africa.
Globally, more than 42 000 people have signed up as donors, of which 70% are Caucasian. This makes it difficult for Africans in need of a transplant to find a match due to varying genetics, Isaacs said.
“Our people can save our own people,” he added.
In South Africa, about 79 00 donors are registered and so far in Namibia, about 800 are on the registry.
“We need more young people of colour to sign up,” Isaacs said, adding that Namibia is unique in terms of genetics due to the way the country was colonised.
Game-changers
CAN CEO Rolf Hansen said “we can all be game-changers by becoming a bone-marrow or stem-cell donor,” especially for paediatric cancer patients.
He implored Namibians to register.
“There might be a Namibian out there in need of stem cells, and if we do not build on our own registry, how could we ever ask anyone to help our own people?”
Don’t be scared
Hansen added that people are often scared to become donors because they fear that the donation process might be painful.
Isaacs assured that the process is similar to donating blood.
“It’s a needle in the arm. It takes about four or five hours, but once that bag of stem cells is taken, it goes directly to the patient and is transplanted into the patient, like a blood transfusion.”
He added that donors would not incur any costs and that they would be supported throughout the process, with a social worker on hand for emotional support.
To register and for more information, visit sabmr.co.za/become-a-donor or contact CAN.
[email protected]
This according to Zaahier Isaacs from the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR), who emphasised the urgent need for donor diversity.
In line with Cancer Awareness Week, the Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN) on Tuesday announced a partnership with SABMR, which will enable eligible Namibian citizens between the ages of 16 and 45 to register as stem-cell donors.
SABMR is the only World Marrow Donor Association-accredited registry in Africa.
Globally, more than 42 000 people have signed up as donors, of which 70% are Caucasian. This makes it difficult for Africans in need of a transplant to find a match due to varying genetics, Isaacs said.
“Our people can save our own people,” he added.
In South Africa, about 79 00 donors are registered and so far in Namibia, about 800 are on the registry.
“We need more young people of colour to sign up,” Isaacs said, adding that Namibia is unique in terms of genetics due to the way the country was colonised.
Game-changers
CAN CEO Rolf Hansen said “we can all be game-changers by becoming a bone-marrow or stem-cell donor,” especially for paediatric cancer patients.
He implored Namibians to register.
“There might be a Namibian out there in need of stem cells, and if we do not build on our own registry, how could we ever ask anyone to help our own people?”
Don’t be scared
Hansen added that people are often scared to become donors because they fear that the donation process might be painful.
Isaacs assured that the process is similar to donating blood.
“It’s a needle in the arm. It takes about four or five hours, but once that bag of stem cells is taken, it goes directly to the patient and is transplanted into the patient, like a blood transfusion.”
He added that donors would not incur any costs and that they would be supported throughout the process, with a social worker on hand for emotional support.
To register and for more information, visit sabmr.co.za/become-a-donor or contact CAN.
[email protected]
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