Jeevandayini Social Foundation organizeda Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Donor registration and awareness drive at the MREI campus today. The Campaign which is an effort to sensitize the youth on Blood Disorders like Leukemia (Blood Cancer), Thalassaemia and Aplastic Anaemia, Sickle Cell Anaemia and other fatal blood disorders was held in association with Manav Rachna Educational Institutions (MREI) under the aegis of Dr O. P. Bhalla Foundationwith technical support from Asian Indian Donor Marrow Registry (AIDMR) and All India Institute of Medical Sciences at the Manav Rachna International University (MRIU) campus in Faridabad.
The Campaign was witness to an esteemed panel of doctors led by HOD Professor D. K. Mitra and Dr Uma Kanga, Department of Transplant Immunology & Immunogenetics, AIIMS. Several senior dignitaries including Dr N.C. Wadhwa, Vice Chancellor, MRIU; Dr M.M. Kathuria, General Secretary, MREI; Ms Madhulika Jain, President,Jeevandayini Social Foundation, graced the occasion. The purpose of this campaign was essentially to help save a life by being a Volunteer as a Stem Cell Donor and spread the message of this national cause. The registration and awareness drive was based on the premise—“Look we can see the end of cancer from here.” In this campaign around 75 people registered for the drive.
Addressing the gathering of revered guests and students, Dr. N.C.Wadhwasaid:“While the world has undergone unprecedented technological growth in recent times, there has also been rising incidence of fatal diseases. Every year, thousands of people with disorders such as leukemia, thalassemia major, aplastic anemia reach a stage where only stem cell transplant can save them. Family members have only a 1 in 4 chance of making the best match and to locate an unrelated volunteer donor is a herculean task. The importance of recruiting potential stem cell donors cannot be underestimated since the larger the register, the greater will be the chance of finding a matched donor and thereby saving a life. I congratulateJeevandayini Social Foundation and Asian Indian Donor Marrow Registry for taking up this noble cause and expanding the Register of bone marrow/stem cell donors”.
Speaking at the event, Ms Madhulika Jain, President,Jeevandayini Social Foundation, said, “Let us equip ourselves to help pave the road ahead as we go about the challenge of getting volunteers to join the Register of donors.”
Expressing great pleasure at being part of an event where “science and humanity have joined hands”, Professor D.K. Mitra said, “The young generation has to take the cause forward and change public perception. In bone marrow transplant, we transfer cells and not the organs. By way of bone marrow transplant, we can treat not just one disease but a variety of disorders including several types of blood cancers, thalassemia major and aplastic anemia.”