Foundation laments shortage of organ donors in SA
Public encouraged to register as organ donors to save lives.
A 2017 survey by the Organ Donor Foundation (ODF) has revealed that 71 per cent of people in South Africa are not willing to donate their organs yet 77 per cent would accept an organ.
The month of August is Organ Donor Awareness Month and the ODF is celebrating 50 years of organ transplant excellence and encouraging South Africans to donate organs to save lives.
Samantha Nicholls, executive director of the ODF said South Africa has one of the lowest percentages of transplants performed in the world.
“The Organ Donor Awareness Month sadly exists because there are not enough donors. One person has the ability to donate an incredible seven life-saving organs, which could potentially save seven lives,” said Nicholls.
She said only 8 000 of the 50 000 South Africans that should be receiving dialysis are being treated in the country. That means 44 000 thousand people are left to die.
“Kidney transplantation is an easy and cost effective alternative to dialysis. We have world-class facilities in both the state and private sectors. There is no reason why we should have one of the lowest percentages of transplants performed in the world,” said Nicholls.
ODF is a national non-profit organisation established in 1988 to address the shortage of organ and tissue donors in South Africa through awareness and education campaigns aimed at the public and medical professionals.
“We receive no funding from government and rely entirely on our own fund-raising initiatives and generous donations from corporates and individuals to support our work,” said Nicholls.
She added they have three annual walks in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg to drive organ and tissue awareness and to encourage public participation. She said that donors are encouraged to inform their next of kin of their wish to be organ donors. If they are under the age of 18 to confirm that their parents or guardians are aware that they are registering as organ donors.
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