The Gauteng Department of Health is appealing to South Africans to sign up as organ and tissue donors and to talk openly with their families about their wishes, as thousands of desperate patients await life-saving transplants, reports The Citizen.
Spokesperson Steve Mabona said the department wanted to give hope to the 6 500 people on waiting lists countrywide, who were hoping for organ and tissue transplants.
“In Gauteng alone, about 1 100 patients are either waiting for a kidney transplant or are being assessed for placement on the transplant waiting list,” he added, saying the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and pancreas could all be donated, while tissue donation covered a wider range of uses.
“Tissue donation can include corneas, skin, heart valves, bone, blood vessels and connective tissue, helping to restore sight, improve mobility and significantly enhance the quality of life for recipients,” he said.
He noted that living donors could also safely donate one kidney or portions of the liver and continue with their healthy, normal lives.
“This has become an increasingly viable route for patients, and thanks to medical advances, living donation is a safe and effective option for many patients in need of a transplant.”
Demand still outstrips supply
Although 317 solid organ transplants were carried out in South Africa in 2024 across public and private hospitals, this fell far short of what was required, with the demand for organs far exceeding the available supply.
Mabona acknowledged that deciding to become a donor was rarely simple, but said it remained one of the most meaningful choices a person could make, and that age or existing health conditions did not automatically disqualify someone.
The department also encouraged people to discuss their donation wishes with family ahead of time. Mabona said families were frequently approached about donation at the worst possible moments.
“In many cases, the question arises during moments of immense grief. Having previously discussed a loved one’s wishes can provide guidance and comfort when making difficult decisions.”
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
SA policy uncertainty a major obstacle to organ donation
State launches organ donation awareness campaign
The complex reasons behind SA’s organ donor shortage