ORGAN DONATION: Part of you is kept alive by a stranger - Malaysia

New Straits Times

I REFER to the article "Long wait for transplant" (NST, May 20). I cannot help but agree that the supply of organs for donation in our country is low but the demand is on the rise. With all the organ donation campaigns carried out in the country to increase public awareness, why do we still face this problem?

Organ donation for most Malaysians remains an idea far removed from their daily lives, until they need one. Many are not aware that organ and tissue donation is the ultimate act of charity. Organ donation is the gift of one's body parts after death for the purpose of transplantation. Transplantation involves the replacement of diseased and defective organs and tissues with healthy ones from donors. This helps save lives.

Commonly transplanted organs are the kidneys, heart, liver, lungs and pancreas while transplantable tissues are eyes, bones, skin and heart valves. Thus, a single donor can save a number of lives.

Most major hospitals provide information on how one can sign up as an organ donor. The procedure is simple and does not consume much time. All that needs to be done is to complete a donor pledge form and forward it to the National Transplant Resource Centre at Kuala Lumpur Hospital. The donor will receive a registration card from the centre.

Read more: ORGAN DONATION: Part of you is kept alive by a stranger - Letters to the Editor - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/organ-donation-part-of-you-is-kept-alive-by-a-stranger-1.89854#ixzz1wUqXCZX0