KUCHING: Sarawak needs more organ donors to save lives and improve the quality of life of patients with chronic or end-stage organ damage.
According to Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, only 5,418 people in Sarawak have registered as organ donor pledgers so far.
“The number is very low compared to the population of the state which is 2.4 million people while we have many patients who are waiting their turn for an organ transplant.
“For example, now Sarawak has around 300 patients undergoing kidney dialysis treatment. If we have more than 300 such organs and a transplant is done, of course, all those patients will no longer need to undergo dialysis.
“But sadly, we don’t have any donors. Not only that, there are also other patients who need organ transplants such as heart, lungs, liver and others,” said Dr Sim, who is also the Minister of Public Health, Local Government and Housing.
He said this at the launching ceremony of Organ Donation Awareness for the Sarawak Level 2022 and the officiating of the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) Organ Procurement Unit office here today.
He said the reality was happening in this country which witnessed many patients waiting for an organ transplant die without having any chance to get a new organ.
Commenting on the time period to receive an organ transplant, Dr Sim said it depends because the donor organ must match the recipient.
“That’s why we need more organ donors. When the number of donors is less, then, of course, it is difficult to find matching donors and recipients.
“Then the chance to save the patient is getting less. Therefore, I urge all parties to play their respective roles by starting to register as donors, thus giving patients the opportunity to live a healthier life,” he stressed.
He added that organ donation can happen from a brain-dead owner or a living donor. Some common transplants include kidney, liver and heart.
“One of the biggest challenges in organ donation regardless of the state or national level is the rejection of the family after death, even if the deceased is a pledger or someone who states that they want to be a donor after death.
“In that regard, I would like to advise everyone who registers to become a pledger, please inform your family members, explain and convince them that this is what you want when you die. Tell them this is a noble deed you want,” he said.
The theme of Organ Donation Awareness Week this year is Organ Donation: Donate for Life. It encourages organ donation to give people the opportunity to live a healthier life and, at the same time, calls on all Malaysians to become donors.
