The National Department of Health urges SA citizens to help save a life by donating tissues or organs as many sick people die waiting as the country is in short supply due to limited knowledge amongst the citizens.
The department’s spokesperson, Foster Mohale spoke to VM Radio’s #WakeUpOnTheMove Breakfast Show Presenter Sane Dhlamini, where he said department is working with organisations like Organ Donor Foundation to create awareness as many people don’t have enough information to make informed decisions.
He also urged anyone interested to visit their nearest public health facilities to get more information so that they will be better informed about organ and tissue donation.
In a recent statement the department of health stressed that the members of the public must embrace the gift of life through organ donation to improve someone’s quality of life or even save someone’s life, especially those who are very sick or dying from a life-threatening disease, or with organ failure.
Currently the country has an estimate of 2500 people on the active waiting list of organ and tissue donation, while others lose their lives while waiting to receive a life saving gift.
The department says one donor can save up to seven lives and transform over 50 lives.
Mohale emphasised that there is no money paid to those who wish to donate and urged those who are willing to donate their organs after dying to communicate that information with their loved ones.
Anyone aged 18 and older is able to donate but health screening will take place to make sure the donors are in a better position to donate their organs or tissues to save lives.
Mohale said the liver and kidneys are the two popular organs and stressed that one can donate those organs and continue to live a healthy life because they generate over time.
Potential donors are encouraged to contact Organ Donor Foundation on 0800 22 66 11 or visit www.odf.org.za.
SA Bone Marrow Registry is available on 021 447 8630 or at Centre for Tissue Engineering at Tshwane University of Technology on 012 349 3500 of via www.tissuedonationorg.za