World Bone Marrow Donor Day (17/09)

Every third Saturday in September, starting in 2015, World Marrow Donor Day is celebrated.

It was initially celebrated in four European countries, where the activities of the World Bone Marrow Donor Association were gaining activity. However, the importance of the problems solved due to the presence of a single register of bone marrow donors, that is, a database of donors who, if necessary and if the genotype matches, are ready to become donors for a patient in need of transplantation, led to the fact that the campaign for Bone Marrow Donor Day received international coverage and was supported in different parts of the Earth. Today the holiday is celebrated in more than 50 countries around the world.

The World Marrow Donor Association is a union of organizations and individuals working for or who have undergone bone marrow donors and people in need of bone marrow transplantation.

A bone marrow or stem cell transplant for many patients with cancer, hematology or other serious illnesses often remains the last chance to recover. The compatibility factor is very low. It is believed that for a recipient in need of a transplant, there is one chance in 10,000 when the genotype of compatibility can coincide and be found. They find it in that same Register of Bone Marrow Donors.

In Russia there is a National Register, however, its limitations, coupled with the factor of rare genotype coincidence, lead to the fact that it is not always possible to provide assistance to the patient, that is, searching for a donor does not bring a positive result. A search in a European (more extensive) data bank costs an excessively high cost, exceeding the cost of a search and operation in Russia several times. Replenishment of the National Registry of Bone Marrow Donors – is the most important task facing society and the state.

However, – donation is purely voluntary. In this regard, the task of state and public organizations operating in the field of healthcare includes the indispensable education of the population about the importance of readiness to become a donor for people in need, explaining the safety of the transplant procedure for the donor. In addition, not every person can become a donor. There are huge health restrictions for those who are willing to become donors, as well as age restrictions under which a person aged 18 to 45 can become a donor.

With the support of public organizations and medical institutions around the world, educational events are held on the third Saturday of September, lectures and seminars and donor events are organized. In a number of Russian cities, a constant flash mob «Beating Heart» is being held as a tribute and gratitude to donors who have given or are ready to give a chance for survival to sick people.



Postcard «World Bone Marrow Donor Day»

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