By Mapaballo Borotho
- Gauteng residents are being encouraged to register as organ and tissue donors to give hope to thousands of people waiting for life-saving transplants.
- Gauteng Health says open conversations with families about organ donation wishes are crucial, as the demand for donor organs continues to far exceed the available supply.
- Some patients spend years waiting for a suitable donor, while others become too ill for transplantation or die before an organ becomes available.
Gauteng residents have been encouraged to register as organ and tissue donors as a way of giving hope to thousands of people waiting for life-saving transplants.
The Gauteng Department of Health says it is important for communities to have open conversations with their families about their wishes regarding organ donation.
“Across South Africa, an estimated 6,500 people are currently waiting for organ and tissue transplants, including many children. In Gauteng alone, about 1,100 patients are either waiting for a kidney transplant or are being assessed for placement on the transplant waiting list,” said Gauteng Health spokesperson Steve Mabona.
“For those waiting, organ donation represents far more than a medical procedure. It is the possibility of a second chance at life. It may mean a child getting the opportunity to grow up, a parent being able to spend more time with their family, or a patient no longer having to endure regular dialysis treatments while waiting for a suitable donor,” he added.
The department clarified that organ donation is not limited to deceased donors.
Living donors can safely donate one kidney or portions of the liver and continue living healthy, normal lives.
Which organs can be donated?
- Heart
- Lungs
- Liver
- Kidneys
- Pancreas
Tissue donation can include corneas, skin, heart valves, bone, blood vessels and connective tissue, helping to restore sight, improve mobility and significantly improve the quality of life for recipients.
In South Africa, the demand for donor organs continues to far exceed the available supply, resulting in many patients spending months or even years waiting for a suitable match.
Sadly, some become too ill to undergo transplantation, while others lose their lives before a donor organ becomes available.
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