Japan Bone Marrow Bank Launched “Smile Campaign” in conjunction with October Bone Marrow Bank Promotion M onth

[Japan Bone Marrow Bank] “Smile Campaign” launched in conjunction with October Bone Marrow Bank Promotion Month ​
Japan Bone Marrow Bank Press release: October 1, 2024 “Smile Campaign” launched in conjunction with October Bone Marrow Bank Promotion Month Aiming to reach young people with new poster
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/5194/20/5194-20-ce2934286f29b3fafc4e682431ef387e-1414×2000.jpg

The Japan Bone Marrow Bank, a public interest incorporated foundation, has created a new poster for October’s Bone Marrow Bank Promotion Month. The design is based on orange, the key color of bone marrow banks, and is being rolled out to each prefecture to further raise awareness. Starting from October 1st, you will be able to view it at various online and offline locations, and messages of support for the bone marrow bank from various fields will also be released one after another. There are nearly 2,000 patients who require transplantation at bone marrow banks every year, but currently only about 1 in 2 patients receive a transplant. In order to save as many patients as possible, we need as many donors as possible to register. In addition, in preparation for the graduation of registrants in their 40s and above, who account for approximately 60% of the registrants, it is especially desirable for younger generations to register as donors. We ask for your cooperation in spreading the word about this initiative and helping as many people as possible learn about bone marrow banks.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/5194/20/5194-20-9b510c29d3d3554da7f6071ba450f54c-1414×2000.jpg ■Design concept The main color was created using orange, which is the key color of bone marrow banks. The tears that fall from the eyes represent the relief, fulfillment, and joy that the donor was able to donate. In addition to donor registration and donation, we also expressed that even those who are unable to register as a donor due to age or medical history can still cooperate in other actions. ■About the bone marrow bank “Smile Campaign” Implementation period: One month from October 1st (Tuesday) to October 31st (Thursday), 2020 Awareness activities: New visual posters such as “Smile Poster” and “Smile Signage” It is posted in blood donation rooms, schools, etc. in prefectures nationwide. In addition, messages of support for the bone marrow bank from celebrities from various fields will be released one after another. This is a campaign to spread awareness and
understanding of donor registration.
■Current situation of Japan Bone Marrow Bank as of the end of March 2024 ・Number of registered donors: 554,123 people ・Cumulative number of bone marrow/peripheral blood stem cell donors: 28,678 cases Only about 1 in 2 patients who need a transplant receive one. Number of new patients registered in FY2023: 1,822 people Number of donations donated by donors to domestic patients: 1,086 ※ FY2023 (April 2023-March 2024 total)
■Challenges of Japan Bone Marrow Bank Crisis of donor shortage starting in a few years More than half of the current donor pool is people in their 40s or older. Donor registration closes after a person’s 55th birthday, so there are concerns that the donor pool will shrink within the next few years. Therefore, there is an urgent need to attract young donors. Social environment that is difficult for donors to provide Even if a donor candidate is found, there are many cases where donation is not possible for various reasons. The main reason other than health is that they are unable to take time off from work or school and it is not convenient for them to donate, and one of the issues is that they are not able to donate because they do not have an environment that makes it easy to donate, despite their intention to donate. .
■Efforts to solve problems Strengthening awareness and awareness among young people ・Holding donor registration meetings at places where many young people gather, such as universities ・Strengthening communication on owned media such as SNS, etc. X (formerly Twitter):
https://x.com/JMDP1789 Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/jmdp.donors/ Promoting the introduction of donor leave system We are asking companies and organizations to introduce a “bone marrow bank donor leave system,” in which the donor’s workplace recognizes the leave needed for hospital visits and hospitalization as special leave, rather than using the donor’s own paid leave. Masu. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNr4PIqT2rY Currently, the Japan Bone Marrow Bank is considering the introduction of online registration using swabs as a new method for donor registration. (Scheduled to be introduced in 2026)