The Life Pod at Tygerberg Hospital recently housed its first organ donor – the first posthumous multi-organ donation in more than two years facilitated through the hospital – but more work is needed to raise awareness of organ donation, say the organisers.
The “Avengers of Medicine” recently assembled in the Save7 “Life Pod” to bring life-saving and life-changing organs to more than eight transplant patients waiting for a second chance.
The event marked the culmination of more than 18 months of work by a group of medical students committed to saving lives through organ donation.
The “Avengers of Medicine” is how Jonty Wright, fifth-year Stellenbosch University student and director of Save7, refers to the teams of experts who swooped in to assist with the medical management and organ procurement of the Life Pod’s first donor patient.
In June this year, Save7 – an NPO established and managed by students at the university’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) – launched the Life Pod, a dedicated specialised support unit for organ donors at Tygerberg Hospital. The ground-breaking facility is the first of its kind in Africa.
“There’s a special reverence to … all of our hard work coming to fruition,” said Wright.
“We are grateful to the family of the donor, who generously made all viable organs available for donation, leaving an unforgettable legacy for their loved one. The staff all lined up to give the donor an honour walk – it was very special.”
This marks not only the first organ donation for the Life Pod but also the first posthumous multi-organ donation in more than two years facilitated through the hospital.
The breakthrough represents a medical achievement as well as a profound humanitarian moment – the first time an organ donor has been securely nursed in a dedicated facility in South Africa.
The Life Pod was purpose-built to ensure that once families consent to organ donation, their loved ones are cared for in an environment designed specifically to preserve the gift of life.
While the Save7 team is elated about the first successful donation, they say lots of work remains to raise awareness of organ donation.
South Africa has one of the world's lowest organ donation rates, at just 0.6%, while more than 4 000 patients await life-saving transplants.
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The complex reasons behind SA’s organ donor shortage