August is Organ Donor Month

By: Lebogang Tsele

Thousands of patients in South Africa are in desperate need of organ and/or tissue transplants. Sadly, the need has vastly outweighed the availability. There are currently, only ± 30,000 registered donors in South Africa. This could be attributed to factors such as cultural beliefs, fear, misconceptions and lack of education or information about organ donation.

Project manager of the Organ Donor Foundation, Taryn Gingell said: "There are still strong difficulties, culturally, with organ donation. There was a case in KZN where the younger members of the family had to get permission to donate a family member's organs, but, the elderly person did not understand this and refused that the organs be donated."

The Organ Donor Foundation's role is to educate and inform the public about the life-saving benefits of organ transplantation and the urgent need for people to register to become donors.

Many people, with healthy organs, die every year. Their organs, if they become donors, could help to save many lives.

One person can save up to 15 lives.

There are currently 1,400 patients awaiting organ transplants and 3,000 awaiting cornea transplants.

If you would like to save a life, or lives, by donating one or more of your organs, you need to let your family know of your wishes or register with the ODF as an organ donor.

"The most important thing is to let your family know because, in the event of your death, the family needs to give consent. In South Africa, it is constitutional law that the family has to give consent," says Caroline Morris, project manager of ODF in Johannesburg.

Anyone under the age of 70 can become an organ donor.

The only exceptions are if your organs aren't healthy or you have been diagnosed with the following diseases: Cancer, Hepatitis, Diabetes and HIV/Aids.

Frequently asked questions (www.odf.org.za):

Which organs can be transplanted?
Heart, lungs, kidneys, liver and pancreas.

Which tissues can be transplanted?
Corneas, heart valves, skin and bone.

Can I agree to donate only some organs / tissue and not others?
Yes. Please inform your family which organs / tissue you do not wish to donate.

How long after death do the organs / tissue have to be removed?
It is essential that organs / tissue are removed as soon as possible after brain death in order to ensure successful transplantation. Brain death has to be certified by two independent doctors.

Is there any cost involved in becoming an organ / tissue donor?
No, it costs nothing to you or your family.

Does my family pay for the cost of donation?
No, the hospital or state will cover all medical expenses from the moment of diagnosis of brain death and when your family has given consent for the removal of organs / tissue.

Would my family receive compensation for donating my organs?
No. Organ donation is a gift, which you make.

Can people buy or sell organs and tissue?
No. Organ donation is a Gift of Life from one family to another. Trading in organs and tissue is illegal.

Can I donate an organ / tissue while I am alive?
Yes, in some cases. Live donations, such as a kidney and part of a liver are often done between family members, because the blood groups and tissue types are more compatible to ensure a high success rate. You can also donate bone marrow while you are alive.

Source: Sowetan