Number of organ donors among the young still low

PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry is calling on more people from the young generation to pledge their organs during the ongoing organ-donation awareness campaign week.

Deputy Health Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said currently, 397,476 people or 1.2 percent of the country’s total population had registered as organ donors, with 60.9 percent of them aged 18 years and above.

He said the young generation should be the ones being ahead of others in the matter of organ donation as it would be easier for them to understand the process and procedures due to the continuous campaign drive on organ donation and transplantation carried out by the government.

“Although some people have pledged their organs, the public awareness level, especially among the young generation was still low, while organ pledges among this group were very much needed for certain reasons.

“We don’t understand why the young choose not to come forward to pledge their organs. Perhaps they are worried or have not yet understood the procedure of removing organs after the pledge has been made as organ donors.”

Dr Hilmi said this after flagging off participants of the ‘Let’s save Lives’ event held in conjunction with the launching of the national-level organ donation awareness campaign week. - Bernama