Organ donation plays a vital role in saving the lives of thousands of patients suffering from organ failure and related diseases. Organ failure is defined as the inability of a vital organ in the human body to perform its function adequately to meet the body's needs. According to data from the National Registry of Organ Failure Patients, more than 18,000 people in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia suffer from kidney failure, the most common type of organ failure in the kingdom. Organ donation helps provide vital organs to replace failed ones, thus saving and improving the quality of life for patients.
The Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation is the supervising body for organ transplant and donation programs and centers in Saudi Arabia. There are 29 accredited organ transplant centers and over 150 donor hospitals across the kingdom. The center coordinates with all relevant entities to ensure the organ donation and transplantation process is carried out efficiently.
What is Organ and Tissue Donation?
Organ and tissue donation is the process of transferring an organ or tissue from one person (the donor) to another (the recipient) to replace a damaged or diseased organ with a healthy one. The donor can be a living donor or a deceased (brain-dead) donor. A living person can donate part of their liver, one of their kidneys, or bone marrow. A brain-dead donor can save and improve the lives of more than nine people by donating organs such as kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, pancreas, intestines, and tissues like heart valves, corneas, and bones. These procedures require high-level coordination between specialized medical teams to ensure successful transplantation and minimize complications and the chances of organ rejection.
Donation: Offering Hope and Saving Lives
Organ failure completely affects patients' lives . For example, a kidney failure patient spends approximately 720 hours annually in dialysis centers, which impacts their work and social life. Kidney donation allows kidney failure patients to return to their normal lives and enjoy better health without continuous dialysis. The human heart is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body, and in case of heart failure, heart transplantation is the only option to save patients with end-stage heart failure. According to the latest statistics, there are 130 patients waiting for a heart transplant. Donors give these patients hope and save them from suffering. Although organ transplantation procedures are costly, they improve the quality of life, and reduce the long-term medical and financial costs of trying to survive with diseased organs.
Challenges Facing Saudi Arabia And Raising Awareness.
One of the biggest challenges facing Saudi Arabia is the shortage of donors compared to those on the waiting lists. Long waiting lists increase patients' suffering and reduce their chances of receiving an organ in time. Additionally, the spread of misinformation is a challenge when planning and working on community awareness. To address such challenges, information should be verified and taken from specialists. Specialists also play a crucial role in intensifying programs and updating references related to organ donation and transplantation in the kingdom, making them easily accessible to all community members. Specialists and those working in organ donation and transplantation should continuously develop their knowledge and skills, providing the needs that contribute to a safe and successful organ donation and transplantation process.
As individuals, each of us has a role in raising awareness about organ donation. Your role can be to obtain information from the right source and share it with those around you. The culture of donation and your desire to save others and give them hope starts from your surroundings, even from your home. If you wish to save a life, register your desire to donate organs via the Tawakkalna application, and don't forget to share this desire with your family.
The Role of the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation
The Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation prepares and updates standards, specifications, conditions, and regulations for accrediting organ transplant centers and donor hospitals. The center also regularly evaluates establishments, follows up with the relevant authorities, and monitors transplant programs technically. Recognizing the importance of developing practitioners and workers in organ donation and transplantation, the center holds courses, conferences, and education and training programs in various fields of organ failure, donation, and transplantation. Regarding the community, the center develops and implements awareness and health education programs. The center also provides necessary support to patients and donors alike and oversees the registration of organ failure patients in the national registry, supporting donors, recipients, and their follow-up.
Organ donation is a noble act that can save and improve many lives. With medical advancements and technologies, organ transplantation has become safer and more effective than ever. The efforts of all sectors under the supervision of the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation are nothing without the community's individuals. Let us all work together to promote the culture of organ donation and raise awareness of its importance, providing others with hope and contributing to improving and saving their lives.
