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October brings pink ribbons and a wave of awareness campaigns. While we support causes we care about, another life-saving effort is quietly in trouble: stem cell donations.
There are more than 43 million registered donors worldwide, but half were recently removed from the registry because their contact details were outdated or for other reasons.
This quiet crisis could mean life or death for many patients. Let’s look at why stem cell donation is important, the challenges involved, and how each of us can make a difference.
Stem cells are the building blocks of life. Found in bone marrow, they are unique in their ability to regenerate and produce new blood cells.
For patients with life-threatening blood disorders like leukaemia, lymphoma or severe aplastic anaemia, a stem cell transplant is often the last hope, a second chance at life when all else has failed.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, a bone marrow transplant involves collecting healthy stem cells from a donor’s bone marrow or blood, filtering them, and then transferring them to a patient whose own marrow has been damaged or destroyed.
This procedure has been a game-changer since 1968, saving lives and transforming families.
But here’s the catch: matching a donor to a patient is no easy feat. Tissue typing, or Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) matching, is incredibly complex.
The silent crisis in stem cell donation
According to the World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA), nearly 50% of registered donors were removed from the global database in 2023.
The reasons donors are removed vary. Medical conditions, immigration, age limits (donors are retired at 61), or personal withdrawal all play a role. But a significant factor is simply a lack of awareness.
Many donors don’t realise how vital it is to keep their information current or how their decision to donate could save a life.
That’s millions of names and millions of lost chances for patients fighting blood cancers, immune disorders, and other life-threatening diseases. In South Africa, the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) says this global decline has already hit home.
“The odds of finding a suitably matched donor are about 1 in 100,000, and for patients from ethnically diverse or mixed heritage backgrounds, those odds are even slimmer,” says Jane Ward, Deputy Director of the SABMR.
Locally, the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) revealed that 11% of donors had vanished from their system.
“We understand that life gets busy, people move, change phone numbers, or simply forget to update their details. But when someone signs up as a donor, a degree of commitment is required. Lives literally hang in the balance,” explains Ward.
Imagine being told you’re a match for someone, a stranger, whose survival depends on your stem cells. It’s a profound moment, filled with responsibility and hope. Most donors are eager to help, but Ward notes a troubling trend: some people withdraw due to fear or discouragement from family members who don’t fully understand the process.
But the reality is far less daunting than many believe. Stem cell donation is typically non-invasive, often involving a process similar to donating blood.
“We can only take patients to the transplant stage if we find and contact their match. And if that donor isn’t reachable, there’s often no second option.”
Ward adds, “We’ve seen firsthand what a successful transplant means for patients and their families. It’s the gift of time, of futures that might have been lost.”To put it plainly: awareness alone doesn’t save lives. Action does.”
The chance of finding a suitable match for a patient is 1 in 100 000. A patient requiring transplant has a 30% chance of finding a match within their immediate family the other 70% has to look to the kindness of a stranger to find a suitable match for a second chance at life.
The SABMR isn’t sitting idly by. In response to the growing crisis, they’re launching a campaign to strengthen donor retention and engagement.
This includes:
Ward emphasises the urgency for younger donors: “Our database is over 30 years old, and we urgently need new, youthful donors to step up. The more diverse and committed our registry, the better the odds for patients.”
Palesa Mokomele, head of community engagement and communications at DKMS Africa, champions the engagement of Generation Alpha in this mission.
She notes, “While they can’t donate yet, they’re mobilising the adults who can. In fact, 61% of 12- to 15-year-olds prioritise helping others above everything else.”
Mokomele also emphasises their role in demystifying stem cell donation, making it relatable for their communities.
How can you help
To become a stem cell donor through the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR), you must be between 16 and 45 years old and in good health. The first step is to register online through the SABMR website or the DKMS Africa website to fill out an online form with your details.
