Saving many lives: Over 10,000 pledge to donate organs, tissue in Abu Dhabi

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Following the announcement of the Abu Dhabi community campaign supporting the National Programme for Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation “Hayat,” launched by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, the regulator of the healthcare sector in the emirate, the number of registrants in the “Hayat” programme reached more than 10,000 organ donors from different nationalities, backgrounds and ages, who expressed their desire to become organ donors post mortem.

This confirms their belief in the importance of organ donation as a noble humanitarian act that embodies the highest meaning of giving and gives others renewed hope in life. These values create a vivid scenario of community solidarity, where organ donation, whether during life or after death, saves many patients, affording them a full recovery.

The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with several partners in the public and private sectors, has launched the Abu Dhabi community campaign supporting the programme.

The campaign aims to encourage community members to register as organ and tissue donors, contributing to improving the quality of life of patients suffering from organ failure. Abdulla Bin Mohamed Al Hamed, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, and the management team members in the department were among the first to register as organ and tissue donors in the campaign.

The community campaign was launched during the International Conference for Initiatives on Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation hosted by Abu Dhabi on November 7 to 9, 2022, and has since expanded its scope through a series of community events and activities including the Zayed Charity Marathon and ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon 2022, alongside several others organised by the campaign’s partners.

Dr Rashed Al Suwaidi, the Executive Director of Healthcare Workforce Planning Sector, stated: “We are pleased with the achievement of the campaign since its launch, as it witnessed an incredible community interaction reflecting community awareness and solidarity in Abu Dhabi. We are continuing to achieve the goals of the campaign and support the National Programme for Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation “Hayat”, backed by our vision to making Abu Dhabi a healthy community.

The numbers registered in the programme prove the community’s keenness to take part in this noble humanitarian act, which contributes to saving the lives of many desperate for help.”

Dr Ali Al Obaidli, Chairman of UAE National Transplant Committee, stated: “We appreciate the efforts and tremendous support provided by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi through the Abu Dhabi community campaign, which undoubtedly contributed to enhancing community awareness.

The National Programme for Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation, “Hayat” is a synergy of collaborative efforts of many federal and local entities, as well as governmental and private institutions to achieve a lofty goal based on saving the lives of many, and instilling hope for the well-being of communities in the UAE and the region.”

The Abu Dhabi community campaign focuses on encouraging all community members to register their request to donate organs and tissues post-mortem, highlighting the success achieved by Abu Dhabi, and showcasing the experience and capabilities of the emirate in areas of organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

The campaign aims to continue raising awareness among the community on the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle, avoiding the chance of developing lifestyle-related diseases and organ failure, and thus reducing the need for transplantation. This awareness includes regular physical activity and adopting a healthy diet to avoid chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and other health conditions.

One person has the potential of saving the lives of eight individuals who are in desperate need of an organ donation, including those suffering from cancer, heart disease, lung failure, cirrhosis, kidney failure and more. As part of the National Programme for Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation, “Hayat”, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi invites community members to learn more about the programme and take the initiative to register, to contribute to saving and improving the lives of those around them, through the website: http://giftoflifead.ae