The Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN), in collaboration with the South African Bone Marrow Registry, has urged Namibians who are between the ages of 16 and 45 to donate bone marrow stem cells to save lives.

The call was made during the National Awareness Week campaign in Windhoek.

The awareness week will focus on the importance of lifestyle changes, hereditary risk factors, and how early detection can impact the course of cancer in people's lives.

People were advised not to sign up as donors if they were not sure about themselves or feared the process.

So far, there are about 79,000 donors from South Africa and 800 from Namibia, with more donors needed to save lives.

The donation process takes about four to five hours to complete.

On his part, the head of the South African Bone Marrow Registry, Zaarhier Isaacs, says that giving someone another chance to live is priceless.

He says that for most donors, donating is painless.

However, there might be some mild and temporary discomfort, and it should be stressed that it is not an operation.

Most donors end up watching television or playing games on their phones during the procedure.

Isaacs urges eligible Namibians to register on the South African Bone Marrow Registry donor database and help.