10,331 registered organ donors as at end October – Health Minister Chris Fearne

As of end October, there are 10,331 registered organ donors in Malta and two people who registered not to have any organs donated, Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Chris Fearne said today.

An organ donation registry was created after the organ donation law passed this year, Health Minister Fearne said. "Everyone over 16 can register to donate organs or not to donate organs," he said, while stressing that when it comes to persons who are not registered, then the family would need to give permission.

The Armed Forces presented a file full of applications from service members, registering to become organ donors.

The 10,331 includes this number, and surpasses the 10,000 number of registered organ donors that government aimed to achieve in 2017, the minister said.

Currently, there are 110 people awaiting organ transplants in Malta. The minister stressed that factors such as blood type, suitability etc all factor in to whether an organ could be donated to someone in need.

The minister said that this year alone, 30 organ transplant procedures occurred in Malta, making it a record.

Home Affairs Minister Michael Farrugia, who was also present, said that there is a process and procedure as to when organs are transplanted, and the process requires a large number of assessments before deciding whether an organ can be transplanted into a patient. The minister appealed for more people to consider becoming organ donors.

Christine Grixti, a patient who recently received a heart transplant spoke of the shock when she found out that her heart was failing. She mentioned that it was hard to find a heart, stressing that it was a long and delicate process. On 9 June, she said, she received a call that a possible heart was found, and the operation occurred on 10 June. "Andrew is with me. His family was generous, and they allowed his organs to be donated."

"I say now that my heart is dead, and Andrew's heart is alive."

She urged more people to sign up as organ donors so that towards the end of their lives, if needed, their organs can help save the lives of others.

 

from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2lrY07N
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