Canadian Blood Services seeks ethnically diverse stem cell donors

The Canadian Blood Services wants more Canadians to sign up as potential stem cells donors to diversify the registry.

Canada's stem cell registry is currently 71 per cent Caucasian. Ethnicity plays a significant role in matches, so people who are minorities have a smallfraction of the possible donors to test.

Peter MacDonald, the director of donor relations, made the plea after hearing the story of Mohammed Abuquta, a Halifax man whose match his brother isstuck in Gaza.

"Absolutely we need to focus more on ethnic diversity," said MacDonald. "Our efforts over the last five years have been strong.

"Currently the 340,000 registries on One Match do not match the patient registration. The majority of matches that are found, come from registries worldwide. We are not meeting demand."

Men aged 17-35 prime targets

Abuquta hasleukemia and his health-care providers say his outlook is poor at best without a bone marrow transplant.

Abuquta is trying to go through political channels to bring his brother to Canada andhis doctor is looking for a second possible donor.

About 25 per cent of matches come from family members, leaving a big hole for the registry to fill.

About1,000 Canadians wait on the list looking for a match. The primary target is men aged between 17 and 35.Men have more stem cells, making them stronger candidates for donation.

"This should be a call to action for people, particularly for any ethnic minority group," said MacDonald.

MacDonald has heard of someone finding two stem cell matches, but it's rare.

Mosque holds registration drive

Recently, the Ummah Mosque in Halifax held two registration drives in an effort to diversify the network.

MacDonald says there are 15 more drives scheduled in Nova Scotia in March alone to encourage people to sign up.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Abuquta is in touch with his member of Parliament for the first time. Geoff Regan's office is helping him fill out the proper paperwork and ask Canadian Immigration for help to bring his brother to Canada.

Abuquta, a permanent resident, has called Halifax home for tenyears. He's hopeful someone will help his family and get his brother to Halifax in time for a transplant.