Organ donors desperately needed to save or improve thousands of lives

MORE than 5 000 adults and children were awaiting life-saving organ transplants in South Africa.

Julie Purkis, liaison officer at the Organ Donor Foundation of South Africa (ODF), said there were not enough donors.

The ODF is a national non-profit and public benefit organisation established in 1988 to address the critical shortage of organ and tissue donors, through awareness and education campaigns.

“The reality is many patients will die each year waiting for the organ they so desperately need due to there not being enough donors. Unfortunately, less than 0.2% of the population are registered organ and tissue donors. And in line with the percentage of the population in each province, the ODF’s database shows that KZN has the lowest number of registered organ and tissue donors.”

Purkis said seven lives could be saved, and up to 50 lives could be restored when a person becomes an organ and tissue donor.

“One donor enables doctors to treat 65 or more patients in need. Your heart, liver and pancreas can save three lives, and your kidneys and lungs can help up to four people. As a tissue donor, you can help up to 50 people by donating your corneas, skin, bone, tendons and heart valves.”

Purkis said some examples of cases where organ transplants are needed included heart and liver failure.

“You may need a heart transplant if your heart is failing, and other treatments are ineffective. In end-stage heart failure, the heart muscle is failing in its attempt to pump blood through the body and other treatments are no longer working. The diseased or damaged heart is replaced with a donor’s healthy heart.

“When you have kidney failure, also known as an end-stage renal disease, you need either dialysis or a kidney transplant to live. A kidney transplant is considered the best treatment option for people facing kidney failure because it can increase your chances of living a longer, healthier life.

“In South Africa, the biggest need is for kidneys. Where a family member is a match, a live donation can take place. When there isn’t a live donor, the patient would be wait-listed and continue with regular dialysis.”

Purkis said 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.

“In most cases, a person will die if they do not have an organ transplant. They are typically very ill with severely compromised quality of life, some are bed-ridden, some on oxygen or dialysis.

“Transplants benefit patients in terms of improved quality of life, often enabling them to resume extended healthy lives and return to employment.”

Purkis said becoming an organ and tissue donor was a great way to leave a legacy.

“It’s also one of the easiest ways to save a life. In South Africa, many significant milestones in organ and tissue donations have been achieved. Sadly, despite all these successes and milestones, we still face an ever-increasing challenge in our country, as there are simply not enough organ tissue donors.”

To find out more on how to be an organ donor or register, visit www.odf. org.za or call 0800 22 66 11 (toll free).