1 lakh targeted, 9,200 responses: Marrow Donor Registry cries for awareness, funds….Ananya Bhardwaj
The first Marrow Donor Registry, set up in the city two-and-a- half years ago, has seen only around 9,200 persons registering themselves for marrow donation so far, a far cry from its target of 1 lakh donors. And this, when at least 40,000 persons suffering from blood disorders such as leukaemia, aplastic anemia and sickle cell anemia die in India a year for want of marrow donors.
The Marrow Donor Registry, India (MDRI) has been established at the Tata Memorial Hospital. Only a third of all the blood cancer patients will find a match in a brother or a sister; the rest of them will require unrelated donors for which a good registry bank is needed. A stronger base of around 1 lakh donors is what we are currently aiming at, Dr Navin Khatri, secretary of the Marrow Donor Registry, said.
During marrow donation, the donor is administered anaesthesia and the doctor withdraws liquid marrow using an injection. Alternatively, peripheral blood stem cell donation is done.
Khatri said lack of awareness and funds are major issues hindering the marrow donation. The donors come forward entirely on a voluntary basis. There is neither any reimbursement nor are they charged. The process, however, costs us Rs 8,000 per donor.
A senior official at MDRI added, This is an issue that affects people all over the country. With so much emphasis and money being pumped into healthcare, a proper marrow donor registry with regular awareness drives is a basic necessity.
The funds for the marrow donation procedure as well as awareness drives are now entirely raised through donations. Attempts were made to start a government-sponsored marrow registry in the city in 2004, but the project could not be completed owing to lack of funds.
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/1-lakh-targeted-9-200-responses-marrow-donor-registry-cries-for-awareness-funds/899214/