MDI Gurgaon’s Samaritans and NGO Gene Bandhu team-up for stem cell donation

MUMBAI: MDI Gurgaon’s social initiative club Samaritans has joined hands with NGO Gene Bandhu in a first-of-its-kind socio-managerial partnership to create awareness and promote stem cell donation

MDI’s Samaritans and Gene Bandhu, an initiative of Safe Blood Organisation have collaborated with a vision to minimise the time required for a person to find a stem cell match and also ensure a successful donation. The MoU will focus on a fellowship programme to be launched jointly by both the parties, wherein the Samaritans will take charge as management partner.

MDI’s Samaritans will build the structure for the fellowship programme for Gene Bandhu which will include formulating the roles and responsibilities of the fellow, creating the selection procedure and eligibility criteria. The researchers will eventually create awareness and promote stem cell donation by looking out for ways to raise the number of pledges to donate stem cells and gradually convert them into donors, helping Gene Bandhu in achieving its vision.

“The strategic partnership with Gene Bandhu is a unique effort on the part of Samaritans to reach out to one of the most vulnerable segments of society who often remain invisible and difficult to reach. The handholding of the NGO would certainly amplify the value and effectiveness of their initiative in bringing a smile on face of the blood disorder patients,” said professor Ashutosh Dash, chairperson, student affairs, MDI Gurgaon.

The fellowship programme under the collaboration will initially involve the students of MDI, following which various other management schools will be approached for participation in this social cause. This activity will be followed by a case study competition jointly organised by MDI’s Samaritans in association with Gene Bandhu.

The researchers will also organise blood donation, stem cell donation and Thalassemia Status check camps twice a year at MDI, Gurgaon, as part of the fellowship programme to make the campus Thalassemia-free for good.