Only 623 from S’wak ethnic groups on stem cell registry
Due to the diversity of races and intermarriage among Malaysians, the probability of finding a matching donor for a patient is very low, especially for patients from Sarawak, as the registered donors of Sarawakian ethnicities account for only about two per cent of the number of existing registered donors.
KUCHING: There are only 623 volunteers from Sarawakian ethnic groups on the Malaysian Stem Cell Registry ( MSCR).
As of last month, the volunteers from Sarawakian ethnic groups make up just two per cent of the 30,750 registered volunteers nationwide.
Malaysian Red Crescent ( MRC) Stampin District blood and organ donation chairperson Wendy Tan explained that stem cell donation helps patients suffering from blood-related diseases such as leukaemia and aplastic anaemia.
“Due to the diversity of races and intermarriage among Malaysians, the probability of finding a matching donor for a patient is very low, especially for patients from Sarawak, as the registered donors of Sarawakian ethnicities account for only about two per cent of the number of existing registered donors,” she said in a press release yesterday.
The press release said Sarawakians are highly encouraged to pledge themselves
Wendy Tan, Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC) Stampin District blood and organ donation chairperson
as potential blood stem cell donors to increase the percentage in finding a compatible donor for patients from Sarawak.
Malaysian citizens aged between 18 and 50, who are healthy and free from any chronic disease can volunteer as a blood stem cell donor.
Potential volunteers can sign up during the Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS) blood and stem cell donor drive on Sept 15 at Vivacity Megamall from 1pm to 5pm, in association with the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) blood bank, MSCR, and MRC Stampin District.
For more information, call Tan on 019- 8182244 or SCCS on 082686276.