DKMS BMST Foundation India, a non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against blood cancer and other blood disorders, took center stage at IIT Kharagpur’s ‘Springfest’ 2024, making a significant impact by registering 320 potential stem cell donors. The three-day cultural and social festival, known for embracing social causes, saw an overwhelming response from students eager to contribute to this noble cause.
As the official social initiative partner of Springfest 2024, DKMS-BMST aimed to encourage students to become potential lifesavers by enlisting in the global registry of stem cell donors. The response was beyond expectations, with 320 students demonstrating their commitment to making a positive impact on society. The event was graced by the presence of Dr. V. Narayana, Director, Department of Liquid Propulsion Systems Center, ISRO, as the guest speaker.
In a country where over 70,000 individuals succumb to blood cancer annually, constituting 8% of new cancer cases, a blood stem cell transplant from an HLA-matching donor becomes a crucial lifeline. With only 25-30% of patients finding matching donors within their families, the remaining 70% rely on unrelated donors accessible through stem cell registries. Ethnic matching significantly enhances the chances for Indian patients, but the limited availability of matching donors poses a challenge.
Patrick Paul, CEO, DKMS BMST Foundation India, highlighted the critical shortage of blood stem cell donors in the country, stating, “Every five minutes, a new case of blood cancer or a blood disorder is diagnosed in India. The availability of matching blood stem cell donors remains a significant challenge for Indian patients in need of life-saving transplants. Encouraging young individuals to register as stem cell donors is crucial, and we aim to amplify awareness through students and youth.”
Professor Rudra Prakash Pradhan, Steering Committee Chairperson, Springfest 2024 IIT Kharagpur, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration with DKMS-BMST, appreciating their efforts in supporting blood cancer and disorder patients. The partnership aimed to raise awareness and register more stem cell donors, leveraging the potential of the youth to inspire positive change.
Expressing gratitude, Patrick Paul extended thanks to IIT Kharagpur and its dedicated students for their invaluable assistance in organizing the registration drive. DKMS-BMST remains dedicated to conducting similar awareness and registration campaigns across educational institutions nationwide, with a particular emphasis on the youth demographic.
To register as a potential stem cell donor, individuals must be healthy Indian adults between 18 and 55. The process involves completing a consent form and swabbing the inside of cheeks to collect tissue cells, which are then analyzed for HLA and listed anonymously on the international search platform for matching stem cell donors.
Thousands of Indian patients are awaiting matching stem cell donors for lifesaving transplantation, and DKMS-BMST emphasizes that recruiting potential blood stem cell donors from India can change their situations. Eligible individuals are encouraged to take the first step and register as blood stem cell donors by ordering home swab kits at www.dkms-bmst.org/register.
About DKMS BMST Foundation India: A non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against blood cancer and other blood disorders, DKMS-BMST aims to improve the situation of patients suffering from these conditions in India and worldwide. Through awareness campaigns and donor registrations, the organization provides patients in need with a second chance at life. DKMS-BMST is a joint venture of two reputed non-profit organizations: BMST (Bangalore Medical Services Trust) and DKMS, one of the largest international blood stem cell donor centers globally. For more information, visit www.dkms-bmst.org.
