Ahmedabad:
The Bone-Marrow Donor Registry of India (MDRI) has launched its Gujarat chapter here with the support of Indian Red Cross Society and city-based Gujarat Cancer Hospital.
“The bone marrow or stem cells can be easily donated by healthy and willing persons for the benefit of patients with the disease,” cancer surgeon and trustee of city-based Sadvichar Parivar, Dr Pankaj Shah said.
Currently, there are two Marrow Donor registry centres operating in Mumbai and Chennai, and patients will get more alternatives with addition of the Gujarat chapter, he said.
Shah on the occasion announced that MP from Ahmedabad East constituency and actor Paresh Rawal will be the MDRI Gujarat-chapter brand ambassador. Bollywood actor Salman Khan is the national brand ambassador of MDRI.
According to MDRI, each year, as many as 10,000 patients of blood related diseases such as leukemia, aplastic anemia and genetic blood disease like Thalassemia are added in the country.
Chairman of MDRI, Dr Sunil Parekh said there is lack of awareness in the stem cell donations in the country as compared to the West.
“Western countries like America, Germany and UK have more than 2.5 crore donors, while in India the number is less than a lakh. Lack of government support and the public awareness is responsible for this,” Parekh said.
Getting a good response for the Gujarat chapter, 40 volunteers donors have already joined hands with the (Gujarat) chapter during the pre-campaigns here, said Parekh.
“Bone marrow donation is safe process and a donor can donate marrow for the maximum two times,” he added.
Bone Marrow is central part in the bones containing precursor cells which produces red cells, white cells and platelets.
