Doha, 18 August, 2015: More than 30,000 people in Qatar signed up to become organ donors since the first day of Ramadan 2015, bringing the total number of donors in the country to more than 75,000.
“The number is a significant improvement on last year’s campaign, demonstrating a greater understanding and acceptance of organ donation throughout the community and high level support for the program,” said Dr. Abdulla Al Ansari, Deputy Chief of Medical, Academic and Research Affairs for Surgical Services at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC).
During the holy month of Ramadan, staff from the Qatar Organ Donation Center (Hiba) set up booths in shopping malls and other prominent locations around the country, aiming to educate members of the public on organ donation in general and asking them to consider registering as a donor.
An organ transplant can be a life-saving procedure. It can also significantly improve quality of life for someone with chronic organ failure. These life-saving organs come from deceased donors, who have pledged during their life to give their organs to someone in need. A deceased organ donor can save up to eight lives. It is also possible to donate a kidney or part of the liver while one is alive to a relative.
“I would like to thank the staff of Hiba and all participants from different departments that have participated in the campaign,” Dr. Al Ansari said. “I also would like to thank the 14 shopping malls and their administrations for their support in providing our teams with a high profile space to spread the message.”
Hiba Director, Dr. Riaydh Fadhil said his team and HMC had worked tirelessly to deliver the message of the advantages of organ donation to the wider community.
“The growth of our donor registry is unprecedented as compared to the region and internationally,” he said. “We started this campaign in 2012 and within three years it reached 75,000 which means seven percent of the eligible adult population here in Qatar. We are confident now that by the end of the year, we will reach the donor registry of 100,000.”
The organ donor public education campaign in shopping malls will continue till the end of the year, he said. “We urge the public to approach the stands and booths of organ donation to get more information on this noble act and register as a donor,” Dr. Riaydh added.
For more information about the organ donation awareness campaign, please go to www.hamad.qa
