Memorandum of Understanding Signed with DKMS Africa

BY: .

Corporate Relations Executive Director, Ms Normah Zondo signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between UKZN and Deutsche Knochenmarkspenderdatei (DKMS) Africa, formerly known as the Sunflower Fund, on 19 April.

In her address, Zondo highlighted the significance of collaborating with DKMS in a collective fight against blood cancer and other blood conditions such as bone marrow failure. ‘UKZN is proud to participate and engage with DKMS Africa in this initiative to create opportunities for our communities through transformative education as well as research and engagement. We commit to support and undertake various activities to facilitate awareness programmes such as stem cell donor registration drives for our students and staff in order to understand blood condition issues and become donors.

‘The MoU aligns with our strategic goals outlined in the University’s recently launched strategic plan. The main goal is to achieve high-impact societal and stakeholder community engagement,’ she said.

DKMS Africa Regional Donor Recruitment Team Leader, Mr Xolani Hlongwane noted that the MoU built on previous engagements with the University and Chief Albert Luthuli Hospital in support of changing patients’ lives and extending knowledge of blood stem donation. Through the DKMS project, UKZN master’s student Mr Kwazi Mhlongo became a blood stem donor.

Ms Erna West, DKMS Interim Country Manager said the partnership with UKZN speaks to agency and commitment to recruit donors. ‘We deeply value this partnership as our core strategic goal is to recruit young donors, create awareness and educate. One of the factors that impact access to transplantation for patients is not having a matching donor. Our mandate is to recruit donors in the country for the country; we need more ethnic donors on our registry,’ she said.

Chief Albert Luthuli Hospital Clinical Hematologist and transplant specialist, Dr Sharlene Parasnath said DKMS opens up a window of opportunities by allowing them to tap into non-patients for donations. ‘In dealing with blood disorders race matters, as there is a lot of stigma within our society when it comes to donating and people like Kwazi can make a difference.’

Director of University Relations, Ms Xoliswa Zulu, thanked everyone present and DKMS for the initiative that will impact the community.

Words: Zama Khoza

Photographs: Sethu Dlamini