The public umbilical cord blood bank "Bedamaich Hayi" is organizing an emergency drive to collect two units of matching umbilical cord blood to save the life of a 22-year- feeble member of the Cochin population from the Jerusalem area who has an acute case of leukemia. The blood bank says the drive is needed following fruitless efforts by Hadassah Hospital to find a bone-marrow donor.

It adds that umbilical cord blood tissues do not have to be as precise a match as the bone marrow. Other advantages are that only one member of the birthing couple has to be a member of the community. Couples from the Georgian, Lithuanian and Ukrainian are also invited to donate since of a excellent chance of a genetic match. The blood is harvested correct after the birth takes space, with no pain felt by mother or child, and there is no other employ except for this vital transplant.

People wanting to create donations or acquire more information are invited to call Chairwoman Shelly Coposta of ICBB organization for umbilical cord blood banks at 02 6499 89