Press Release

DKMS Africa Named A Qualifier At The Marketing Achievement Awards

The Marketing Achievement Awards Recognizes DKMS Africa’s Marketing Campaigns.

Cape Town, February 2025 – DKMS Africa made history with the Marketing Achievement Awards qualifier status for 2025. The non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against blood cancer and blood disorders is the first non-profit organisation to achieve the qualifier status as an independent entrant. In addition, the qualifier status marks the first time the organizations’ marketing campaigns receive recognition by the marketing community at an award level.

DKMS Africa achieved qualifier status in three categories, namely, Excellence in Integrated Marketing, Excellence in Purpose-led Marketing, and Excellence in Resourceful Marketing. The qualifier status underscores the powerful impact of marketing in raising awareness, fostering education, and driving action to potentially save the lives of patients awaiting a stem cell transplant.

Sharing post the 2025 qualifiers unveiling by the Marketing Achievement Awards, head of Corporate Communications and Community Engagement, Palesa Mokomele said, “In a country where blood cancer and disorders continue to affect thousands, our innovative approach to marketing has proven instrumental in educating the public about the critical need for stem cell donors. In leveraging targeted campaigns, we’ve reached diverse audiences, ensuring that information about registering as a stem cell donor reaches those who can make a life-saving difference.”

Blood cancer and disorder patients have a 1 in 100 000 chance of finding their perfect match. Thus, DKMS Africa has tirelessly worked over the past three years to ensure there are more potential stem cell donors available on the stem cell registry for patients to reach transplant.

“Effective, purposeful marketing plays a vital role in ensuring our message gets to the right people at the right time. Through strategic marketing efforts, we’ve increased our understanding of stem cell donation, dispelling myths and addressing concerns in addition to highlighting the urgent need for a diverse donor pool. Every new registration brings hope to those battling blood-related diseases, and our outreach efforts are helping to secure a better future for patients across South Africa,” added Mokomele.

As DKMS Africa continues to educate, inspire, and mobilize, the Marketing Achievement Awards qualifier status serves as a reminder of the power of marketing in shaping a healthier, more connected society. The fight against blood cancer is far from over, but with sustained awareness and the support of committed donors, we are making a difference-one potential donor at a time.

About DKMS

DKMS is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against blood cancer. Founded in Germany in 1991 by Dr. Peter Harf, DKMS and the organization’s over 1,200 employees have since relentlessly pursued the aim of giving as many patients as possible a second chance at life. With over 12 million registered donors, DKMS has succeeded in doing this more than 110,000 times to date by providing blood stem cell donations to those in need. This accomplishment has led to DKMS becoming the global leader in the facilitation of unrelated blood stem cell transplants. The organization has offices in Germany, the US, Poland, the UK, Chile, and South Africa. In India, DKMS has founded the joint venture DKMS-BMST together with the Bangalore Medical Services Trust. International expansion and collaboration is key to helping patients worldwide because like the organization itself, blood cancer knows no borders. DKMS is also heavily involved in the fields of medicine and science, with its own research unit focused on continually improving the survival and recovery rate of patients. In its high-performance laboratory, the DKMS Life Science Lab, the organization sets worldwide standards in the typing of potential blood stem cell donors.