With the month of August known as Women’s Month in South Africa, the Organ Donor Foundation (ODF) is reminding citizens that August is also World Organ Month.
ODF volunteer ambassador, Sammy Nandlall, unpacked their programmes which are aimed at educating and encouraging all communities to be organ donors.
“Organ Donation Day is observed on 13 August every year. Organ Donation Day was established with the aim to encourage all communities to come forward and donate organs to save precious lives that are lost due to organ failure,” she said.
“The aim of this day or month is to advocate, motivate and educate normal human beings to pledge to donate their organs after death, and to spread awareness about the importance of organ donation. The aim is to create awareness about the massive population that dies due to organ failure, as a result of organ shortage in South Africa,” Sammy explained.
She added that 13 August is also observed to attempt to eliminate the fears, perceptions and the myths about organ donation. “On this day, the focus is to address that organ donation can be life-changing for many. The practice can give a new life to the ones in need. Often people would want to receive an organ but are unwilling to donate or register as an organ donor,” she emphasised.
“Organ donation is the medical process of taking an organ from a deceased person, with the consent of their family and friends, and surgically transplanting it into another person who is in dire need of an organ,” Sammy clarified the procedure.
She also highlighted that the donation costs absolutely nothing. “By our laws, the hospital and/ or Tissue Bank will cover all medical expenses from the moment your family gives consent to have your organs or tissue donated,” she said.
“The donor and their family do not receive any compensation for donating any organs or tissue. Donation is a gift and should come from kindness. Organ donation is made possible by heroes – people who voluntarily decide to donate organs and tissues for transplant,” Sammy concluded.
To learn more about how to become an organ donor, visit www.odf.org.za or call the Organ Donor Foundation’s toll-free number 0800 22 66 11 to register.
