Urgent call for you to sign up as a bone marrow donor
Only 30 per cent of people are lucky enough to find donors in their family, while the remaining 70 per cent must look elsewhere for a match.
The coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on many industries and has now also taken its toll on the treatment of blood disorders and stem cell transplantations worldwide, putting thousands of lives at risk.
Dr Charlotte Ingram, medical director of the SA Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR), the largest registry in the country, says they too have seen a drop in local donor registrations since the start of the pandemic.
She attributes the decline to physical events that drive blood stem cell donor registrations having to be cancelled around the country and the extended lockdown orders prompting the public to stay indoors.
These measures are obviously crucial in slowing the spread of the virus, but it has put a strain on the critical services that registries provide.
READ: Get involved in the fight against blood diseases
Aside from a lag in donor recruitment, Covid-19 has also made it difficult to transport blood stem cells to patients in need.
While specialised stem cell courier services are operational, the current travel restrictions, international flight availability and quarantine protocols have impacted critical delivery times.
“In light of the pandemic, the SABMR will for the foreseeable future, recruit all donors online,” said Ingram.
“Our number one priority is to protect our donors, potential donors and patients while continuing to offer a second chance of life to those who need it. Patients with blood disorders, such as leukemia and thalassemia around the world are still in urgent need of blood stem cell transplants.”
Only 30 per cent of people are lucky enough to find donors in their family, while the remaining 70 per cent must look elsewhere for a match.
When local matches aren’t found, international registries are accessed, but even so, the odds of finding a match are slim, and in the event of an international match being found, the process is an expensive one.
To drive donor registrations, the SABMR has stepped up its efforts by launching a massive online campaign, starting this July, with the aim of achieving 10 000 new volunteer donors before World Marrow Donor Day (WMDD) on September 19.
The SABMR’s target is to have 100 000 donors available for patients in need at any given time.
Over the next three months, hero donors will be sharing their stories on social media to inspire and help create awareness, while debunking myths around the procedure.
If you are between the ages of 18 and 45 and want to become a donor, contact the SABMR on 021 447 8638 or email: donors@sabmr.co.z
For more info, visit https://sabmr.co.za/become-a-donor/
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