A Lifesaving Gesture: Register as a Bone Marrow donor in Córdoba

On this National Bone Marrow Donor Day, observed annually on April 1st, the Ministry of Health, through the Coordinating Entity of Ablation and Implant of Córdoba (Ecodaic), is actively encouraging residents to register as bone marrow donors. This initiative underscores the critical need for donors to combat oncohematological diseases and other serious health conditions.

Why Your Registration Matters

Registering as a donor offers a beacon of hope for individuals awaiting life-saving transplants. Romina Quiroga Guallanes, director of Ecodaic, emphasizes the global impact of donor registration:

When someone needs a transplant, a worldwide search is activated between registered donors, weaving a network of hope that considerably increases the possibilities of finding compatibility. Therefore, it is crucial to sensitize the importance of registering and committing itself as a donor. Each new record expands life opportunities for those who expect a compatible donor.
Romina Quiroga Guallanes, director of the Ecodaic

Currently, the global network, Bone Marrow Donors Worldwide, includes over 40 million registered donors, with Argentina contributing over 336,000. Córdoba alone accounts for 28,000 of these dedicated individuals.

Córdoba’s commitment to Bone Marrow Transplants

Córdoba has a robust infrastructure for bone marrow donation,boasting 12 strategically located capture centers throughout the province. These centers facilitate a simple and secure registration process. In 2024, the province saw 1,167 new bone marrow donors, a consistent figure since the reduction of the registration age limit to 40 in 2020. Furthermore, four Cordoba residents made impactful donations to international recipients in Brazil, the United States, and France.

The province has also demonstrated a strong commitment to transplants, completing 118 procedures in both public and private healthcare sectors. Of these,46 involved unrelated allogeneic donors from the National Registry,while 72 were from related donors,typically family members.

Understanding the Donation Procedure

The registration process is straightforward. potential donors sign an informed consent form and donate a standard unit of blood (450 ml). A small sample is then taken for genetic typing, which is added to the National Donor Registry. If a match is found, Incucai will contact the donor to proceed with the bone marrow cell donation.

To be eligible, individuals must:

• Be in good health
• Be between 18 and 40 years old
• Weigh over 50 kilograms
• Avoid fasting, dairy, and fatty foods before donation

The Urgent Need for Bone Marrow Donors

Each year, countless individuals face diagnoses of hematological diseases, metabolic disorders, or immune deficiencies, many of which necessitate a hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) transplant, commonly known as a bone marrow transplant. While a family member might potentially be a compatible donor in 25% to 30% of cases, the remaining patients rely on unrelated donors identified through registries like the National registry of Donors of Hematopoietic Progenitors (CPH).

Key Facts at a Glance

• Registering as a bone marrow donor is an act of solidarity, offering hope to those battling oncohematological diseases.
• Córdoba provides 12 accessible capture centers for easy registration.
• this initiative coincides with the 22nd anniversary of the National Registry of Donors of Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells (CPH) of the INCUCAI.