About organ donation and why you should consider it

About organ donation and why you should consider it

People who need an organ or tissue transplant are usually very sick or dying, because one or more of their organs are failing. About 4 300 people are waiting for a life-saving organ or cornea transplant in South Africa. Organ donation is a medical procedure where one person donates an organ, or tissue, to another person who needs a transplant. Unfortunately, only 0,2% of our population are registered organ donors.

Saving and transforming lives

One organ donor can save up to 7 lives and change over 50 lives. Your heart, liver and pancreas can save 3 lives and your kidneys and lungs can help up to 4 people. In fact, you can help up to 50 people by donating your corneas, skin, bone and heart valves.

A person decides that after his/her own death, someone else should benefit from healthy organs and tissue through transplantation. Live donations, such as kidney transplants, are often done between family members because the blood groups and tissue types are more compatible. This ensures a high success rate.

Who can become a donor?

You can become a donor if you’re under the age 70 and if you’re in good health. Also, you should not  have predefined chronic diseases that might cause further health complications for the recipient(s).

You can register as an organ donor by contacting the Organ Donor Foundation toll-free line at 0800 22 66 11, or registering online. The most important thing is to talk to your family. Inform them of your wish to become an organ donor. They have to give their approval to procure your organs for transplantation.

Transplant statistics in South Africa:

2018

391 solid organ transplants broken down into the following:

Hearts: 38 adults & 4 Paediatric

Lungs: 23 adults

Livers: 49 adults, 29 paediatric of which:

14 paediatric were live related

Kidneys: 212 adults, 18 paediatrics of which:

66 adults, 8 paediatric transplants were live related

31 adult and 1 paediatric transplants was live non-related

Pancreas: 8 adults

2017

371 solid organ transplants broken down into the following:

Hearts: 31 adults

Lungs: 9 adults

Simultaneous Heart/ Lung: 1 adult

Livers: 51 adults and 24 paediatric of which:

7 adult were live related

Kidneys: 230 adults 23 paediatrics of which:

73 adults and11 live related paediatric transplants

40 live non-related adult kidney transplants

Pancreas: 2 adults

2016

There were 512 organ and cornea transplants.

361 of these were solid organ transplants broken down into the following:

Hearts: 23 adults & 2 Paediatric

Lungs: 14 adults

Livers: 40 adults, 4 adolescents and 21 paediatric of which:

1 adult & 14 paediatric were live related

Simultaneous kidney/liver: 3 adult & 1 paediatric

Kidneys: 234 adults, 3 adolescent & 12 paediatrics of which:

86 adults, 2 adolescents & 4 live related paediatric transplants

26 adult live non-related kidney transplants

37% of kidney donors related to the recipient

Pancreas: 1 adult

Simultaneous kidney/pancreas: 3 paediatric

151 adults, adolescents and children had their sight restored through a cornea transplant.

2015:

There were 548 organ and cornea transplants.

369 of these were solid organ transplants broken down into the following:

Hearts: 27 adults

Lungs: 12 adults

Livers: 44 adults, 5 adolescents and 22 paediatric of which:

13 paediatric were live related

Simultaneous kidney/liver: 1 adult & 2 paediatric

Kidneys: 231 adults, 4 adolescent & 16 paediatrics of which:

48 adults & 5 paediatric transplants were live related

44 adult kidney transplants was live non-related

21% of kidney donors were related to the recipient

Simultaneous kidney/pancreas: 3 adults

Pancreas after kidney: 2 adults

179 adults, adolescents and children had their sight restored through a cornea transplant.