Younger donors urgently needed as stem cell registry ages

Temba Bavuma stands at the forefront of the fight against blood cancer, urging men to take action and register as stem cell donors.

THE South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) has warned that an ageing donor database could threaten the future availability of life-saving stem cell transplants unless more young South Africans sign up as donors.

Nearly half (46.3%) of the registry's active stem cell donors are older than 46, while only 4.2% fall within the crucial 16 to 25 age group. The median age of donors on the registry is now 44.

The warning comes as the registry, which has operated for 35 years, faces the prospect of thousands of donors becoming medically ineligible or ageing out of the system over the next decade.

SABMR deputy director Jane Ward said transplant centres generally favour younger donors because younger stem cells are associated with better transplant outcomes.