Become an organ donor and save lives

SOUTH Africa has around 2 780 desperately ill people waitlisted for organ donations and transplants, but with insufficient donations, adults and children are dying almost daily, waiting for this life-saving gift.

This August, the country commemorates National Organ Donor Month and encourages people to register as organ donors under the 2022 theme ‘A life after mine‘.

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Department of Health spokesperson Foster Mohale said people are unnecessarily losing their lives owing to the unavailability of organs.

“Although the wider public is aware of blood donation, there is little knowledge when it comes to organ donation,” explained Mohale.

“We do not believe the lack of organ donation is to do with cultural and religious beliefs, but limited knowledge.
“That’s why the department has joined hands with stakeholders such as Organ Donation Foundation and other civil society organisations to raise awareness about this important campaign.”

Mohale explained that a single organ donor can save up to seven lives, as well as improving the quality of life of many people.

Anyone over the age of 18 can volunteer to donate their organs.

There are two types of organ donations; live donations whereby individuals can donate a kidney or part of a liver – which regenerates. In fact, these donations are often most needed due to liver failure in children caused by biliary atresia, often misdiagnosed as jaundice.

There is also deceased donation, which involves an organ transplant to a living person from a consented donor who has died.

“People are urged to have discussions with their families and loved ones once they decide to sign up for organ donation,” said Mohale.

“We call on all South Africans to be part of the organ donor network to reduce the backlog and save lives,” he said.

Organ donor volunteers can participate in this life-saving campaign by going to their nearest hospital to register, or contact the provincial or national health departments directly.

Alternatively, they can visit the organ donation foundation website – www.odf.org.za – and sign up as a donor.

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