Welcome to "Black Blood Heals," where we explore the groundbreaking world of blood stem cell therapy. In today's episode, brought to you by NMDP, we are joined by Dr. Edward Ziga, an esteemed pediatric specialist in blood marrow transplant and blood stem cell therapy. Dr. Ziga provides crucial insights into the unique challenges faced by the black, latino, and black Caribbean communities in need of stem cell transplants, particularly in relation to sickle cell disease and other disorders. As we unravel the complexities of donor-recipient matching, we gain a deeper understanding of the importance of ethnicity and ancestry in donations, as well as the disparities in access to donors for patients with diverse heritages. Dr. Ziga's work in Ghana also sheds light on the global impact of blood stem cell therapy and the opportunities to save lives beyond borders.

We learn about the criticality of expanding the donor registry to include more diverse ethnicities to improve the chances of finding matches for patients from underrepresented communities. The conversation emphasizes the urgent need for more individuals, regardless of their background, to join the registry and become potential life-saving donors. Dr. Ziga's passion for his work, dedication to helping patients, and commitment to building a global network for advancing stem cell therapy inspires a call to action for all listeners to consider becoming a part of the solution. As we strive to make a lasting impact, we are reminded that it takes all of us to save just one of us.

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Learn more at https://www.nmdp.org and see how you can join the registry at https://bit.ly/NMDP_Registry_YT

00:00 Challenges accessing health care for African-Latino group.
06:04 Sickle cell disease is prevalent in certain communities.
06:52 Latin, black, and Hispanic most affected by diseases.
12:11 Finding a donor depends on genetic makeup.
14:50 Transplant isn't a cure for everyone.
17:18 Returned to Ghana to provide medical assistance.
19:20 Ghanaian community eager to volunteer for registry.
23:06 Encouragement to join registry and make a difference.