Donating stem cells to save lives in South Africa

This means that people who come from African family lines have only a 19% chance of finding a matching donor. In this article, we explore the impact of stem cell donation, the existing registries in the country and how South Africans can make a difference.

The power of stem cell donation 

When patients face a life-threatening condition, like a blood cancer or certain blood disorders, stem cell transplants give them hope. These transplants replace damaged or malfunctioning cells with healthy ones, giving patients a second chance at life. But it's important to find a suitable donor for the patient. Genetics play a significant role in this because patients are most likely to find a match among those from the same ethnic background as them.

The registries: The South African Bone Marrow Registry and DKMS Africa

1. South African Bone Marrow Registry: The South African Bone Marrow Registry was founded in 1991. The aim of the registry is to provide South African patients with human-leukocyte-antigen-matched donors who are unrelated to them. While this registry has over 78,000 registered donors, the distribution is unequal: 67% white, 7.8% coloured, 10% black, 9.9% Asian/Indian and 5.2% listed as "other/unknown".

2. DKMS Africa: Established in 2021, DKMS Africa combines the efforts of a German-based non-governmental organisation, DKMS, and a South African organisation, The Sunflower Fund. The DKMS registry now has 37,811 donors, but the donor pool lacks ethnic diversity. As of March 2022, 75.8% of the donor pool is white; 8.4% is coloured, 8.7% is black, 6.8% is Asian/Indian and 0.4% is "unspecified".

The urgent need for diversity

• Patients from African family lines only have a 19% chance of finding a match for a stem cell transplant.
• We must, therefore, increase the representation of black and coloured donors in the registries.
• Every donor matters. Whether you're black, white or of any other ethnicity, the unique characteristics of your tissue could save a life.

How can South Africans help?

1. Register as a donor: Anyone can join the registry and become a potential lifesaver. It's easy, quick and it's free! Simply order a swab kit online , swab your cheeks and return your kit. We'll add you to the registry,

2. Spread awareness: Share this article. Educate your friends and family and encourage them to register.

3. Organise community drivesOrganise (or attend) local drives to recruit donors from diverse backgrounds.

4. Give your financial support: Donations help maintain and expand the registries, ensuring that more lives are saved.

How does the donation work?

The process typically involves the collection of blood-forming stem cells from a donor's bloodstream, a method known as apheresis. Before the collection, donors receive injections for several days to increase the number of stem cells in their blood. During apheresis, blood is drawn from one arm and passed through a machine that separates out the stem cells. The remaining blood is then returned to the donor through the other arm. This process can take a few hours, and the collected stem cells are then ready to be transplanted into the patient, where they can produce new, healthy blood cells..

You could be someone's lifeline. Register today!

By diversifying our donor pools, we increase the chances of finding a match for patients who urgently need stem cell transplants. Let's unite as South Africans and create a bridge from hope to healing. Together, we can save lives - one swab at a time. You can register to become a stem cell donor through the South African Bone Marrow Registry. You can register to become a stem cell donor through the SABMR. Alternatively, you can register with DKMS.