Dear Faculty, 

Join us for the DKMS Africa and UCT Medical School Blood Stem donor drive on the 18th of May 2023 from 10:00 – 15:00 in the quad to help blood stem cell registry and donor centre, DKMS Africa delete blood cancer! 

Every 72 minutes someone in South Africa is diagnosed with blood cancer. In many instances, a blood stem cell transplant may be their only hope of a cure. Without this, they will succumb to their illness, however, only 0.04 % of South Africans are registered as donors. 

One such donor includes 3rd-year UCT Film and Media student, Siphosethu, who donated blood stem cells to a blood cancer patient in November last year. She signed up in April 2022 as part of an information drive with DKMS Africa. 

There is a 1:10000 chance that a match with be found and patients are more likely to find one from someone from the same ethnic group as them. Black, Indian, Coloured and Asian patients are at a further disadvantage due to the lack of representation on the global blood stem registry. 

The DKMS Africa and UCT Medical School Blood Stem donor drive takes place ahead of World Blood Cancer Day which takes place on the 28th of May.  

Swabbing only takes 5 minutes! 

You could be a lifesaver!