Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

MP calls for nationwide drive to rally Asian donors

BY LAUREN CODLING

CONSERVATIVE MP Priti Patel has called for a nationwide drive to increase the number of donors from ethnic minority communities as figures show a significant lack of Asians on the list.


The Witham MP raised the issue during Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday (23), requesting Theresa May to lead a national campaign for donor registration.

May said she was aware more needed to be done and she was fully supportive of Priti’s event stating that nearly £20 million has been provided to the NHS Blood and Transplant Service and blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan for stem cell donation since 2015.

“That includes some very specific stipulations about the numbers of newly registered donors stored in the UK blood bank that may be from BAME backgrounds and specific funding to support the recruitment of donors from BAME backgrounds,” May added.

Earlier, Patel attended an initiative in Westminster to help encourage Asian communities to sign up to the donor list.

According to Anthony Nolan, there is only a 20.5 per cent chance of finding a suitable stem cell donor for Asians, compared to 69 per cent for people with white or European heritage.

“Speaking to friends and family, it is clear that more work is needed to raise awareness within our community to increase understanding of how to help and become a donor,” Patel told Eastern Eye. “There are a number of misperceptions about how to be a donor, including the view that this is an invasive procedure when in fact it is as straight forward as giving blood.”

The former secretary of state for international development, who has previously helped to raise money and awareness for the charity Children with Cancer, said health services, including pharmacies, must do more to raise awareness concerning the issue.

Patel said she hoped to see NHS commissioners working with pharmacies to have information points and test kits available with specific awareness drives around certain key health issues, such as registering to become a stem cell donor.

Explaining why she supported the donor campaign, Patel said: “As someone who has a voice and an ability to raise the issue in parliament, and also more widely within the community, I chose to do so.”

One of the children affected by a lack of donors is Kaiya Patel (no relation to the MP).

The five-year-old has acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), a rare type of blood cancer that starts in the white blood cells, and “desperately” needs a stem call donor.

Unable to find a match within her family, a campaign is urging people to register as donors to help her.

Binit and Laila Patel, Kaiya’s uncle and aunt, were also in attendance at the drive. They confirmed Kaiya is “battling through” her tough treatment and is continuing to fight every step of the way.

“Kaiya is very lively and still enjoying playing with her sister,” Binit told Eastern Eye. “She goes to school a couple of hours a day and is generally very positive.”

Laila added: “Kaiya is on chemo every day and a week ago, she had an infection so that was a bit of a setback. Her parents are trying to keep her life as normal as they can as it is very tough treatment.”

The pair admitted that before Kaiya had fallen ill they were not aware of the low number of donors within the Asian community. However, they hoped the drive and campaign could raise further awareness and bring the issue to light.

“The Asian community are becoming aware they have a responsibility to register for their own community in the future,” Binit said. “Raising the issue, not just of stem cell donors, but any kind of donation needs to be talked about within the Asian community and awareness needs to be raised.”

Since Kaiya’s family have gone public with their story, Laila and Binit agree the support has been overwhelming. The family is feeling optimistic that a match will be found soon.

“You only need one person to make a match so the sentiment in the family is keep doing everything we can,” Binit said. “Even though it is a race against time, the family are feeling very positive.”

To find out how to become a donor, visit: https://webforms.anthonynolan.org/bone-marrow-stem-cell-register

More For You

11th UK Gatka Championship

All winners received medals and trophies

UK Parliament

11th UK Gatka Championship ends with Welsh debut and £1,000 support for Gatka Akharas

Highlights:

  • The 11th UK National Gatka Championship was hosted near Cardiff, marking the first time in Wales.
  • Winners included Roop Kaur (girls), Navjot Singh (boys), and Gurdeep Singh (men’s).
  • Gatka Federation UK awarded £1,000 to each participating Akhara to support martial arts promotion.
  • Chief guests included MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and Harjeet Singh Grewal, President of the World Gatka Federation.

Gatka Championship marks Welsh debut

The 11th UK National Gatka Championship concluded on a high note near Cardiff, Wales, showcasing the traditional Sikh martial art with flair. Seven leading Gatka Akharas participated, thrilling spectators with their lightning-fast strikes, precision moves and elegant techniques.

Inauguration by global leaders

The tournament was inaugurated by Harjeet Singh Grewal, President of the World Gatka Federation (WGF) and the National Gatka Association of India (NGAI). He was joined by Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP, President of Gatka Federation UK, alongside other dignitaries including Jagbir Singh Jagga Chakar, President of Wales Kabaddi Club, and community leaders from the Haveli Hotel Pontyclun.

Keep ReadingShow less
Vantara

The site, located in Gujarat, houses hundreds of elephants, as well as 50 bears, 160 tigers, 200 lions, 250 leopards, and 900 crocodiles. (Photo: Instagram/Vantara)

India court probe clears Ambani family’s animal centre

AN INDIAN Supreme Court-ordered investigation has cleared a large private animal facility run by the son of Asia’s richest man, rejecting allegations of wildlife violations.

Vantara, described as the “world’s biggest wild animal rescue centre,” is operated by Anant Ambani, son of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer

Starmer, who has faced negative coverage since taking office in July 2024, defended the appointment process.

Reuters

Starmer: I would not have appointed Mandelson if aware of Epstein ties

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer said on Monday he would not have appointed Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to Washington had he known the extent of his links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

This was Starmer’s first public statement since dismissing Mandelson last week. The prime minister is facing questions over his judgement, including from Labour MPs, after initially standing by Mandelson before removing him from the post.

Keep ReadingShow less
Trump

Trump said the suspect had been arrested earlier for 'terrible crimes,' including child sex abuse, grand theft auto and false imprisonment, but was released under the Biden administration because Cuba refused to take him back.

Getty Images

Trump says accused in Dallas motel beheading will face first-degree murder charge

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has described Chandra Mouli “Bob” Nagamallaiah, the Indian-origin motel manager killed in Dallas, as a “well-respected person” and said the accused will face a first-degree murder charge.

Nagamallaiah, 50, was killed last week at the Downtown Suites motel by co-worker Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, a 37-year-old undocumented Cuban immigrant with a criminal history.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer Mandelson

Starmer talks with Mandelson during a welcome reception at the ambassador's residence on February 26, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Getty

Starmer under pressure from party MPs after Mandelson dismissal

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer is facing questions within the Labour party after the sacking of US ambassador Peter Mandelson.

Mandelson was removed last week after Bloomberg published emails showing messages of support he sent following Jeffrey Epstein’s conviction for sex offences. The dismissal comes just ahead of US president Donald Trump’s state visit.

Keep ReadingShow less