ADHS
News Release:
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| Release: |
Health Department Seeks To Raise Cord Blood
Awareness |
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| Release
Date: |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –
January 19, 2007 |
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| Contact: |
Michael Murphy, ADHS Public Information: (602)
542-1094
Janey Pearl, ADHS Public Information: (602)
364-1201 |
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The Arizona Department of Health
Services is launching an educational campaign to inform
expectant mothers of the life-saving value of newborn
umbilical cord blood.
The effort is part of a new Arizona law requiring health
professionals to inform pregnant women in their care
about options related to umbilical cord blood.
“Our goal is to help pregnant women and their families
understand umbilical cord blood storage and donation,”
said Department of Health Services Director Susan Gerard.
Families have three options: discard the blood found in
a baby’s umbilical cord; donate it to a public cord
blood bank to be screened for use by a person in need;
or store it in a family cord blood bank for use either
by the child or a family member.
The Department is providing health professionals across
Arizona with informational pamphlets. They include
information such as how cord blood is collected, and the
costs, benefits, and risks of storing and donating cord
blood.
A downloadable copy is available on the Department’s Web
site at
http://www.azdhs.gov/phs/owch/index.htm. A request
form for health professionals to obtain additional
pamphlets is also on the Web site.
Cord blood banking is a relatively new procedure that
can save lives, and is completely safe for babies and
mothers. It provides a unique biological safeguard,
which can come in handy later in life.
According to Dr. Jordan Perlow, a nationally recognized
expert on the uses and collection of umbilical cord
blood: "The placenta and umbilical cord contain
‘leftover’ blood following the birth of a child. This
is a precious resource and should no longer be
considered medical waste. Umbilical cord blood contains
stem cells that are treating many life threatening
diseases today.”
This blood contains stem cells unique to the baby and
its family and can create many different types of cells
in the body, including blood cells that carry oxygen,
fight disease, and help stop bleeding. They can also be
transplanted in patients to treat a number of
life-threatening blood or immune diseases.
For more information on the educational pamphlet about
umbilical cord blood, contact Toni Means at the Arizona
Department of Health Services at (602) 364-1400. |
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