By starting with awareness projects at high schools and universities, the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) hopes to reach and educate people between the ages of 16 and 45 about the benefits of stem-cell donation.
This was according to Jane Ward, deputy director of the SABMR, a non-profit organisation that specialises in bone marrow stem-cell transplantation.
The organisation recently hosted World Marrow Donor Day (WMDD) at Stellenbosch University.
The event took place at the Maties Gymnasium, stated Nadia Chalkley, head of donor recruitment at the SABMR. WMDD takes place annually on the third Saturday of September, she said.
WMDD is celebrated annually to thank donors for their contribution to raising awareness for stem-cell donation, according to Chalkley.
World Marrow Donor Day was hosted at Maties Gymnasium recently, where the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) raised awareness about the importance of stem-cell donation, according to Nadia Chalkley, head of donor recruitment at the SABMR. PHOTO: Facebook/South African Bone Marrow Registry
“We come together to celebrate WMDD to thank donors across South Africa, and the world, for their selfless sacrifice and contribution,” said Chalkley. “It is also about creating awareness, and signing up donors, which we came to do, and we did today.”
This year’s WMDD was considered a success because of the awareness that was raised amongst staff and students on the campus, stated Chalkley.
“No matter how many donors sign up, people are aware of what we’re doing and they can spread the word to the next person, who could join the registry as well,” said Mogamat Zahir Kamaar, donor recruitment officer at the SABMR.
The registry currently has 78 000 registered donors after starting recruitment in 2018, said Ward.
Nadia Chalkley, head of donor recruitment at the South African Bone Marrow Registry, discussed various types of cancer. AUDIO: Liam Abercrombie
Donor recruitment and awareness
In most cases, donors are found via social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, where awareness is raised about what the SABMR does, stated Kamaar.
“The lack of awareness around bone marrow stem-cell donation in my community is what urged me to sign up as a volunteer,” said Isibabale Nkani, a 20-year-old volunteer for the SABMR. “A family member was diagnosed with Leukaemia. Sadly, she passed away, as no donor match was found.”
The experience of losing a family member encouraged her to take a step to volunteer and raise awareness, said Nkani.
“I’ve tried to do my bit to drive awareness and increase donor sign ups among my community as bone marrow stem-cell donation is still a foreign concept to many of my friends and family,” Nkani explained.
“If more people were aware of what it entails, my aunt may still have been with us today,” she stated.
“No matter how many donors sign up, people are aware of what we’re doing and they can spread the word to the next person, who could join the registry as well,” said Mogamat Zahir Kamaar, donor recruitment officer at the South African Bone Marrow Registry, after a recent stem-cell donation drive at Stellenbosch University. PHOTO: Facebook/South African Bone Marrow Registry
Creating awareness and going into the communities to educate people about stem-cells and bone marrow donation is another method used by the SABMR, according to Ward.
“All costs involved are covered by the SABMR,” stated Ward. “All we want from the donor is their time.”
The donation process takes four to eight hours, which the SABMR tries to get done in one day, said Ward.
Targeting young and healthy donors is a medical approach and a student community like Stellenbosch is a good place to spread awareness about topics such as bone marrow donation, explained Chalkley.
“Medically, the younger the donor, the better the outcome of the patient,” said Chalkley.