Cordlife’s 'One Blood' helps fight leukemia
Cordlife Group Limited has launched a campaign which aims to create awareness about cord blood banking as an option for treatment of diseases, particularly leukemia.
"The event is called 'One Blood.' It's an advocacy to create awareness about cord blood banking as a standard option for treatment of diseases, especially leukemia, a blood disorder which affects the cells that are involved in producing blood," said Dr. Arvin C. Faundo, medical director of Cordlife, during an interview the launch of the drive held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Ortigas Center in Quezon City last April 6.
"We are a cord blood banking company that also operates in Singapore, Hong Kong, India and Indonesia. This facility has been around since 2010 and we are registered with the Department of Health," said Faundo.
Faundo said: "We focused on leukemia because it is already one of the diseases for which cord blood stem cells is a standard option, meaning there is no question about it anymore because it has been established after so many years that has been used."
Reports said that one of the leading causes of death in the Philippines is leukemia.
Around 3,977 were diagnosed with the disease in 2012 alone, authorities said.
Officials described the mortality rate at an alarming 5.3 percent. "It is a silent killer among us that needs to be addressed."
Stem cell transplant using cord blood is one of the treatments for leukemia.
Cord blood is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord after birth. It contains the healthiest stem cells that can replenish blood, regenerate damaged bone marrow, treat blood cancers and correct genetic defects. It is also a potential source for cellular therapy and regenerative medicine.
Through cord blood banking, families now have a chance to survive fatal genetic diseases like leukemia and other blood-related diseases.
In February 2010, Cordlife Philippines was officially launched. It is the country’s first and only private cord blood processing and cryopreservation facility aimed to give the Filipino the chance to benefit from the advantages of having a readily available supply of cord blood.
To create awareness on cord blood banking’s importance as an available standard option for families who may need stem cell transplant, Cordlife recently launched One Blood.
This national advocacy is in partnership with the Philippine Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine, said Faundo.
Under One Blood, free cord blood banking will be given to chosen pregnant mothers with family history of diseases or with family members with disease/s that can be treated by cord blood and who might be a candidate for stem cell transplantation.
Other services that will be extended to the beneficiaries include: Transplant Care, Cord Blood Network, and Cordlife Quality Guarantee.
* What Cordlife clients have to say
TV personality Jolina Magdangal-Escueta: "Mark and I needed to make sure that we can continue to keep our baby safe once he's out of my womb. We also wanted to have more medical options readily available in case the diseases that impacted our families - like cancer and diabetes, hit our child. We got our assuring answer from Cordlife - our steadfast partner in keeping our baby's stem cells. We know that Cordlife meant serious business when they said that they'll partner us in ensuring the safety of Pele's stem cells, through Cordlife Care360."
Actress Dimples Romana: "I've come to terms to the fact that many thing can happen to Cooper in the future, both good and bad like getting seriously ill. I want to make sure that I've done my part in guaranteeing that Cooper has the best way to cope. And since there are many advances in cord blood banking and the service is already made available and affordable here in the Philippines through Cordilfe, I just had to get it for both my children."
To know more about One Blood, call Cordlife at (02) 3321888 or log on to www.cordlife.ph - Robert R. Requintina
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