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HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson InitiativeApril Is National Donate Life MonthEvery day in the United States, people suffer or die due to serious shortages of blood, bone marrow or other tissue. The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) facilitates marrow and blood stem cell transplants for patients with leukemia and other blood or genetic disorders. As part of its efforts to provide patients in need with potentially life-saving transplants, the NMDP continues to work toward increased awareness about the need for volunteer bone marrow or blood stem cell donors.
In addition to sponsoring National Donate Life Month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services maintains an organ and tissue donation Web site at http://www.organdonor.gov/ where potential donors can learn more about saving lives. The site provides a wide range of educational resources, as well as opportunities for both individuals and organizations to get involved:
The Growing Need for Organ and Tissue DonationWhile significant progress has been made in the treatment of disease, saving lives often depends on the availability of organs, tissue -- such as bone marrow or blood stem cells -- and blood. Unless enough donors come forward, the shortage will worsen and patients will continue to suffer. As the following figures show, the need is critical:
Marrow and Blood Stem Cell Donors NeededOf the estimated 30,000 children and adults diagnosed each year with life-threatening blood diseases, nearly 70% of these patients will not find a suitable donor in their family. That means they depend on unrelated donors to come forward. There are several ways to help:
The NMDP and The Marrow FoundationThe National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP) is committed to its mission to extend and improve life through innovative stem cell therapies. As of March 2003, the NMDP has facilitated more than 15,000 transplants throughout the world for patients with life-threatening diseases, such as leukemia and aplastic anemia, whose best hope for a cure may be a bone marrow or blood stem cell transplant.The NMDP offers searching patients who do not have suitable family donors a single point of access for all three types of stem cells used in transplantation: marrow, peripheral blood, and umbilical cord blood. Through its extensive U.S. and international Network, the NMDP manages the largest and most diverse Registry of volunteer donors, including more than 25,000 cord blood units. Matching donors to patients is only part of NMDP's life-saving mission. The NMDP also provides support for patients and physicians and conducts research studies aimed at increasing opportunities for and improving the outcomes of stem cell transplants. The Marrow Foundation® was created to secure resources from the private sector for the work of the NMDP. The NMDP and The Marrow Foundation share the following goals: to sponsor research to improve the outcomes of unrelated marrow and blood stem cell transplantation, to increase the diversity of the NMDP's Registry of unrelated marrow or blood stem cell donors, and to assist patients with financial needs as they search the Registry for a suitable match. Learn more about The Marrow Foundation. |
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Organ and tissue donation awareness is a key initiative of U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson. Thompson has declared the month of April National Donate Life Month to raise public awareness of the need for organ and tissue donation.
