Hospicare and TELL bring education around kidney health and organ donation to Clearwater Mall
Kidneys are the body's blood filtration system and transplant waiting lists are excessively long
Without a reminder one may take for granted the precious gift the human body is.
To celebrate Kidney Awareness Week, a Wilro Park frail and renal care facility teamed up with an organ donor advocacy group for a free kidney and health screening day at Clearwater Mall on September 10.
Hospicare offers a wide range of treatment, lifestyle and administrative facilities and they found the perfect partners to drive home the message for such an invaluable mission.
Transplant Education for Living Legacies (TELL) is a non-profit organisation that focuses on raising awareness not just about organ donation but around the legal procedures for organ harvesting.
While one may register as an organ donor, doctors still require the permission of a newly deceased organ donor to retrieve those organs. TELL aims to educate organ donors to make it known, or tell, their loved ones about their intention to allow for organ harvesting in an unfortunate situation.
Hospicare provided free blood pressure and sugar testing while the team from TELL explained to shoppers the life-saving implications of organ donations. Waiting lists for organs are exceptionally long, with the Department of Health stating in August that just over 2 700 people were currently waiting for heart, kidney, liver and lung transplants.
Also read: https://www.citizen.co.za/roodepoort-record/2022/03/10/a-road-not-easily-travelled/
“With kidneys you can prolong life through treatment but your life expectancy drops by five years every year you are on dialysis,” said TELL Managing Director, Stella de Kock, who has been on the kidney transplant waiting list since 2012.
Special guest at the screening was Zane the Zunicorn, TELL’s mascot transplant recipient. Zane was born a unicorn but circumstances forced Zane to require a part replacement. A zebra stepped in to offer a helping hoof and now Zane has one stripped leg.
“Zane now spends his days telling kids how important it is to share their spare. We found that by using Zane’s story, children understand organ and tissue donation and don’t find the concept frightening,” explained De Kock.
Organ health can be hereditary but those born with functioning organs can do what they can to preserve that which is almost irreplaceable.
“We are here trying to get people to be proactive so that they can know their sugar and blood pressure and are able to make healthy choices,” said Hospicare volunteer, Delaine van Zyl. Every organ donation has exponential effects, but as De Kock stressed, “Make sure you tell people about the benefits and tell family that you want to help save a life”.
