Donate organs, save lives

Organ donation is a humanitarian message to save human lives, and a service provided by the donour to end the suffering of a patient who has been in pain for years and years.

The severe shortage of human organs is considered the most important challenge facing patients in need, as there is no source for human organs other than the person himself. These organs cannot be taken from the person except with his consent while he is alive, and the consent of his guardian after his death.

However, the laws of the Sultanate of Oman and international laws criminalise all types of trafficking in human organs in exchange of money but rather organ donation is carried out in accordance with controls and procedures determined by medicine law.

Community members must be aware of the importance of organ donation as a humanitarian act and a generous initiative that is the appropriate solution for treating organ failure such as kidney failure, liver failure among others from which millions of patients worldwide suffer.

Despite all the remarkable developments in the field of science and technology, the optimal treatment for patients with organ failure is to transplant a healthy organ instead of the affected organ. The only source of these human organs is humans, and the need for organs is greater than the supply.

The Ministry of Health in the Sultanate of Oman is making a lot of efforts to raise awareness of the culture of organ donation, as Dr Ahmed bin Saeed al Busaidi, supervisor of the National Organ Transplantation Programme in the Ministry of Health, stated.

"The Ministry of Health has activated the post-death organ donation programme through the Shifa application, and this will help in conducting more organ transplant operations for patients on the waiting list, especially those who do not have a donour," he stated.

The Omani Association for Organ Transplantation also seeks to spread the culture of organ donation among members of society, by organising various community events and its accounts on social media. It also works in cooperation with the National Organ Transplantation Program in the Ministry of Health to contribute to the qualification of medical personnel, by holding lectures and scientific seminars in the field of organ donation and transplantation.

There are misconceptions and misunderstandings about donating organs after death in Omani society, including that it is not permissible to donate organs according to Islamic law, and that the desire to donate organs after death leads to the medical staff rushing to announce the death.

Also, donating organs after death greatly delays burial and condolence ceremonies, and leads to major distortions in the body of the deceased. However, these concepts and beliefs are all wrong and must be changed among members of society.

There are 3,000 thousand patients in Oman and many children on dialysis, who need help from the shackles of dialysis equipment. You can be the one who helps save a life, and your post-mortem organ donation can save the lives of 8 people suffering from organ failure, namely the lungs, kidneys, heart, liver, intestines, pancreas, in addition to tissues and corneas.

When donating tissues, the number increases to 50 people, while a living donor can save two people. A living person can donate one kidney, one lung, and part of the liver, pancreas, and intestines.

The focus is on successful transplant operations in the Sultanate of Oman to enhance confidence, and the continuous emphasis on the importance of preserving human rights, not seeking commercial organ transplants, and using technology to provide correct and simplified information for both the donor and the patient. In addition, to using technology to facilitate registration as an organ donour after death.