Desperate need for organ and tissue donors

A WALK along Blouberg Beach has helped create awareness about the desperate need for organ and tissue donors, as the list of patients awaiting organ and tissue transplants grows.

The awareness campaign was organised by the Vitanova tissue bank, in conjunction with the Organ Donor Foundation.

Organ Donor Foundation spokesperson Julie Purkis said there was a dramatic decrease in donors and transplants, as the infectious nature of Covid-19 had an impact on specialist services such as ICUs.

“The pandemic introduced many obstacles in referring potential donors and obtaining consent from their family. Not only were referral numbers reduced, but none of the tissue banks accepted tissue from donors who died due to Covid-19-related conditions,” said Purkis.

Tissue banks had suffered a reduction of around 35%. Recovery and awareness manager at Vitanova, Sandra Venter, said that with South Africa having over 5 000 adults and children waiting for life-saving transplants, the stark reality was that many patients who have been on the waiting list for a long period could die.

“Becoming an organ and tissue donor is a great way to leave your legacy in the world, and a way of saving a life. Your heart, liver and pancreas can save three lives, and your kidneys and lungs can help up to four people.

“Many people require an organ transplant due to a genetic condition such as polycystic kidney disease, cystic fibrosis or a heart defect.

“Infections such as hepatitis, physical injuries to organs, and damage due to chronic conditions such as diabetes may also cause a person to require a transplant. However, as a tissue or organ donor, you can help 65 or more people by donating your corneas, skin, bone, tendons, and heart valves,” Venter said.

For more information, go to www. odf.org.za for a simple sign-up, or call 0800 22 66 11 (toll free) to register.