Black Caucus Foundation Teams Up With Marrow Donor Program to Increase Awareness

Lawmakers are working with a national registry to ensure funding for a program that gives Americans access to a potentially life-saving bone marrow match.

Going a step further, National Marrow Donor Program and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation have partnered to celebrate African American Bone Marrow Awareness Month through July and raise awareness about the need for African Americans to join the registry, according to a recent release.

Only 7 percent of the 8 million potential donors on the national registry are African American, according to the statement, and fewer potential donors meant fewer potential matches for African American patients seeking transplant.

“We are happy to partner with the NMDP to build public awareness about the importance of African Americans serving as bone marrow donors,” said Elsie L. Scott, president and chief executive officer for the CBCF. “When we talk about health disparities, this is one that is easily solvable by signing up as a donor.”

The NMDP will sponsor bone marrow registration drives through the month. The events will feature talks from U.S. Representatives about the need to growth and diversify the national registry.

“Growing the national registry starts with volunteers in communities across the country,” said Jeffrey W. Chell, M.D., chief executive officer of the NMDP. “Patients in need of transplant rely on donor drives to expand the registry so that their chances of finding a potentially life-saving match increase. As growing numbers of Americans are in need of transplant, expanding and diversifying the registry is critical, which is why reauthorization of the Program and the NCBI is so urgent.”

A Chicago native, Bridgette has been a journalist since she first wrote for her seventh grade newsletter. Today, that passion is just as strong. She has written for several newspapers, including the Houston Chronicle, the Houston Defender, the Marshall News-Messenger (Texas) and the Springfield News-Sun (Ohio).

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2 Responses to Black Caucus Foundation Teams Up With Marrow Donor Program to Increase Awareness

1. Dannie Moore says:

   10:27am July 14, 2010 at 10:27 am

   Wow! I am thrilled to see that! I am a donor recruiter for the Be The match Program here in Cincinnati,OH. Good stuff!!!

   Reply
2. Alexis Drafall says:

   5:07am February 15, 2012 at 5:07 am

   I just say such a relief to find someone that actually knows what theyre talking about on the web. You certainly understand how to bring a worry to light making it important. Lots more people have to look at this and appreciate this side in the story. I cant believe you are not popular as you definitely have the gift.

   Reply