STEPPING up its campaign against kidney failure, the Department of Health (DOH) in partnership with Philippine Network for Organ Sharing is promoting its advocacy on organ donation, especially from deceased donors.
With the partnership, DOH and PhilNOS has launched the "I'm a Lifeline" campaign pushing for the deceased organ donation advocacy beat the Guinness World Record for most people sign up as organ donors for one hour single site.
The campaign aims to extend awareness through the Organ Donation Advocacy Caravan where kidney disease is ranked as the 9th leading cause of death among Filipinos.
DOH record also shows more than 10,000 cases of patients with kidney disease are in dire need of transplants from deceased donors.
“Some 23, 636 living patient with kidney failure and undergoing dialysis were in need of a kidney transplant as of the year 2013,” PhilNos program manager Dr. Antonio Paraiso said during a recent press conference at the Azalea residences.
At least 17 donors and 34 successful transplants this year were already accomplished coming from deceased donors, according to Paraiso.
“123 recipients are on the list awaiting kidney transplant,” Paraiso continued.
To further spread the advocacy and encourage more to be organ donors and be a lifeline, I’m a Lifeline campaign will be having an Organ Donation Advocacy Caravan in several North Luzon provinces.
Starting July 22, the caravan will go around North Luzon with a mobile registration booth. The Lifeline team will be visiting Dagupan Pangasinan, Baguio City, San Fernando La Union, Vigan Ilocos Sur, Batac Ilocos Norte, Claveria Cagayan Valley, Bayombong Nueva Vizcaya, and Cabanatuan Nueva Ecija.
Meanwhile, only two Baguio based Urologist are accredited to perform surgery in harvesting organs donated by living donors.
Dr. Darwin Henry Galuba, one of the two Baguio based Urologist of Saint Luis University Hospital, said not all urologist can do the harvesting of organs for transplant to other patient during the North Luzon Advocacy Caravan for Organ Donations and Transplantation Program at the Azalea Residences.
Galuba meanwhile expressed his support in the advocacy for transplant from deceased donors who are in dire need of operation.
“Before we harvest the organs from the dead, doctors will still seek permission from the relatives first,” said Galuba.
The Organ Donation Advocacy Caravan meanwhile will have a free registration to Lifeline for those who want to donate their organs. (Phiny Jean V. Sagucio and Jessielyn Duran/ISU-Echague Intern)