Turkish Red Crescent Stem Cell Donor Candidate Count Exceeds 1 Million 250 Thousand
Within the scope of the TÜRKÖK project carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, the number of active donors has reached 1 million 251 thousand 677 people.
In a statement issued for World Marrow Donor Day, the Turkish Red Crescent announced that the number of active stem cell donor candidates under the Turkey Stem Cell Coordination Center project has reached 1 million 251 thousand 677.
TÜRKÖK Project and the Role of the Red Crescent
The Turkish Red Crescent carries out the Turkey Stem Cell Coordination Center project in cooperation with the Ministry of Health.
Within the scope of this project, critical tasks such as donor recruitment, matching, transplant planning, and the delivery of cellular products are undertaken.
Current Data on Donor Numbers
With new donors joining in the first eight months of the year, the total number of active stem cell donor candidates has reached 1 million 251 thousand 677 people.
Of the current donor candidates, 63 percent are men and 37 percent are women.
Great Hope for Patients
Turkish Red Crescent President Prof. Dr. Fatma Meriç Yılmaz made evaluations regarding the issue.
Yılmaz stated that over 1 million 251 thousand volunteer donor candidates are a major source of hope for patients waiting for stem cell transplants.
The Donor Application Process
Healthy citizens aged between eighteen and thirty-five can become stem cell donors by applying to Red Crescent blood donation points.
During the application, an information form is filled out, three tubes of blood are taken and transferred to the database, and the process is activated in case of a match.