WITH the Parliament's approval of the Transplant of Human Organs Law this year, the local media and the Ministry of Health are urged to launch a comprehensive campaign to promote the culture of organ donation in Egypt, Dr. Hamdi el-Sayyed, the chairman of the Doctors' Union, told a Cairo conference on Wednesday night. Dr. el-Sayyed, who drafted the law, said that thousands of Egyptian patients needed kidney and liver transplant every year, but they lost life because there were not enough willing donors. "With the passing of the law, the concept of organ donation should be promoted among the Egyptians through the launching a comprehensive media campaign," he told the opening session of the First Organ Transplant Congress. Dr. el-Sayyed explained that a very large number of patients die every year due to organ failure and transplantation is the only treatment available for them. He said that there were only about 25 organs and tissues like the heart, lungs, liver, corneas (eye), etc that can be transplanted. “But, only few organs like kidney and a part of the liver can be donated by living persons. Therefore, donation is the only answer to meet the growing requirement of thousands in need. This can be achieved if the media co-operates with the Ministry of Health in launching a campaign to generate awareness about the noble deed of organ donation to save lives," he said. El-Sayyed added that many Islamic countries, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, allow organ donation from the dead to sick patients. Meanwhile, Egypt's renowned liver transplant specialist Dr. Mahmoud el-Meitini told the gathering that doctors and religious figures are urged to hold presentations, seminars and discussions in colleges, schools and clubs to promote the concept of organ donation. “During such meetings, free literature is distributed and the audience is motivated to sign a donor card after discussion with the next of kin, which he or she should keep on him or her as an expression of wish to donate organs after death,” he said. Dr. el-Meitini told participants of the conference, which will be held every two year, that the law would encourage the Ministry of Health to build new specialised hospitals, where transplant operations can be performed. He said that the approval of this law was a positive step that created hope for thousands of patients, who have been waiting a long time for live-saving transplant operations in Egypt. More than 300 Egyptian, Arab and Western specialists, who are reviewing 100 research papers about the latest surgical techniques in organ transplant, pre-operative care, and post operative care. The conference ends today.
