Stem cell therapy is the new age solution in the world of medicine.The trend tom preserve the cord blood for stem cell research is not new.The trend is gaining popularity worldwide.The recent addition is Caribbean country of Ghana.

The first African Caribbean mum has delivered her baby’s cord blood is Paulette Simpson.She delivered the blood in the King’s College Hospital, UK. Terie Duffy, Midwife Cord Blood Coordinator, at King’s College Hospital, has been collecting cord blood herself and training other midwives in collection.

50 mums have so far donated at King’s College Hospital. Due to lack of donors with their tissue type, African Caribbean patients often find it hard to find a stem-cell match.

Donation is simple, ethical and free. After birth, a doctor or midwife will collect blood from the placenta and umbilical cord using a needle connected to a sterile bag. This takes minutes and is then transported to the cord blood bank for tissue typing and storage.

King’s College Hospital is a part of the King’s College Hospital by the Nottingham based Anthony Nolan Trust Cord Blood Bank.

It can be added that Cord blood stem cells have been highly successful in renewing bone marrow and regenerating the immune systems of those with life-threatening illnesses including leukaemia, sickle-cell diseases, and immune deficiencies.Whilst the research is still very much in its experimental stages, scientists are hopeful that future cord blood transplantation will help with many more diseases.

Source: Modern Ghana.com