NATIONAL NEWS - This Youth Month, DKMS Africa is spotlighting a silent crisis: not enough young people are registering as stem cell donors, and it’s costing lives.
DKMS stands for 'Deutsche Knochenmarkspenderdatei', or German Bone Marrow Donor Centre. That’s where they originated, but are now active in many countries.
Young South Africans aged 16 to 39 face some of the worst survival odds when diagnosed with blood cancer, worse even than children and older adults with the same illness.
And yet, the key to saving these lives lies with the youth themselves. Patients have the best chance of survival when their stem cell donor is young, but far too few are stepping up.
“Defeating blood cancer often comes down to receiving a stem cell transplant from a compatible donor. But what many don’t know is that the age of that donor is critical,” says Palesa Mokomele, Head of Community Engagement and Communications at DKMS Africa.
“Younger donors, aged 17 to 25, give patients the best shot at survival. And yet, only 30% of registered donors in South Africa fall within this medically desirable age bracket.”
She explains that as we age, our stem cells lose potency. “They regenerate poorly, become more inflamed, produce fewer immune-boosting lymphocytes and may even carry harmful mutations linked to cancer. We urgently need more young donors who not only register but understand the life-saving difference they can make by following through.”
DKMS Africa is calling on South Africans aged 17 to 25 to take action this Youth Month and register as blood stem cell donors.
“Too many young lives are hanging in the balance. A successful transplant starts with a match, but it ends with a donor who steps up and stays committed,” concludes Mokomele.
Photo: Unsplash
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