Diversity is one of the defining characteristics of United Nations staff. It is a key strength of our Organization that greatly helps in the context of our work, but it can also help us make a difference through the contribution we make in our personal lives.
One possible way to contribute is to sign up for Donor Registries to help cure patients who have been diagnosed with life-threatening blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. Increasing the diversity of donors in worldwide registries can greatly help in treating cancer patients, who come from a variety of backgrounds.
How can I join a donor registry?
Recently, our colleagues at the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok conducted a blood donation and stem cell testing drive as part of a campaign initiated by the family of Lara Casalotti, who served at UN ESCAP. Lara is part Thai, Chinese and Italian, which has made finding a stem cell donor match extremely difficult. UN ESCAP staff worked with the Thai Red Cross to conduct the drive in order to help Lara and others like her to find a matching donor.
What is happening here at headquarters?
If you would like to contribute to improving diversity in donor registries, there will be an opportunity to participate in a donor registry drive facilitated by the Medical Services Division on Thursday, 11 February 2016 from 10am to 3pm in the Secretariat lobby by the East River side windows.