Indian Parents Turn to Cord Blood Banking
The most recent issue of the India Times covers the increasing number of parents in the country that are banking their children’s cord blood. In the city of Chennai, more and more young couples are discovering the benefits of cord blood banking and wish to take part in order to secure a safe future for their families.
Chennai is home to three of the country’s stem cell banks, each of which stores stem cells from umbilical cord blood, menstrual blood and cord tissue. Parents from around the country send their cord blood samples to Chennai’s banks.
Of all types of stem cells, cord blood is now the most popular choice for parents in India. Every month, at least 100 couples bank their children’s cord blood. However, only 1 in 30 000 people end up withdrawing their units for the purpose of treating life-threatening illness, highlighting the need for more parents to take part in cord blood banking. As well, this number is expected to change as regenerative medicine and cellular therapy uses continue to develop.
The article profiles Thamirabharuni, an eight-year-old with Thalassemia. Her parents banked the cord blood of her younger brother to help treat her disease. Thalassemia is a big risk for individuals of Indian descent, which is why many parents in the country are looking at the option of banking their children’s cord blood.