The South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) is calling on young people specifically between the ages of 16 and 35 who are relatively healthy to consider signing up as a stem cell donor this Youth Month.
South Africa could face growing pressure on its stem cell donor pool unless more young people register as donors, the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) has warned.
The registry's donor base is ageing rapidly, with almost half of active stem cell donors aged over 46. By contrast, just 4.2% of registered donors fall within the key 16 to 25 age bracket, while the median donor age has reached 44, according to Weekend Argus.
The concern comes as the SABMR marks 35 years of operation and looks ahead to a period in which thousands of existing donors are expected to become medically ineligible or reach the age limit for donation, potentially reducing the availability of life-saving stem cell transplants.
SABMR deputy director Jane Ward said transplant centres generally favour younger donors because younger stem cells are associated with better transplant outcomes.
