Donating Cord Blood
Indigenous NT women able to donate cord blood
Indigenous women in the Northern Territory can now help their own people who suffer from leukaemia. The Territory has received a license that will allow indigenous people to donate life-saving cord blood that helps treat this disease.
The process is - after the baby is born, blood from the umbilical cord is removed. The cord blood is rich in stem cells and this can be used when bone marrow donars can’t be found.
The Territory Health Minister Chris Burns said that it is hard to match the blood type for Indigenous people elsewhere in Australia.
Indigenous tissue is unique and can only be used for Aboriginal patients. There is an education program taking place within The territory with Indigenous Officer Mundullullu. She says that no one will be hurt during this procedure and explains in full the process with the women in the community.