The Youth Union organisation of the Da Nang General Hospital has launched a programme encouraging the public to register for making organ donations. This highly meaningful activity helps spread the humanistic spirit in life and lay the foundation for the operation of the future-to-be-developed Organ Transplantation Centre at the hospital.

The Da Nang General Hospital’s Youth Union members registering for donating their organs after their death (Photo: THANH TINH)

In light of many seriously ill patients who are at the end of the line for hope being still on the transplant waiting list, desperately - needed organ donation is essential to bring the life-giving, life-enhancing opportunity to them. 

One of the people who came up with ideas for launching the programme, doctor Le Tuan Anh from the Ward of Gastro-intestinal Surgery at the hospital said the programme was really inspired by the fact that some people who wanted to donate their organs after their death but do not know where to register and that Da Nang government has just approved the Organ Transplantation Centre project.

Deputy Secretary of the hospital’s Youth Union organisation of Le Gia Loc eagerly said that his unit received active response and applause from a large number of patients who are under treatment at the Ward of Gastro-intestinal Surgery and their family members

“Till date, more than 80 people have registered to donate organs through the programme. Therefore, in the near future, we plan to expand this programme into other medical wards so that more people can join, thus gradually changing their thoughts and awareness of organ donation in a positive manner”, said Mr Loc.

Organ donation involves transplanting healthy organs and tissues from a recently deceased person to someone in need.

The kidneys, heart, intestines, lungs, and several other organs from a single healthy donor can save eight to ten people, but healthcare institutions around the world are still desperate for organs to help their patients.

Organ donation is still considered taboo in Viet Nam, where traditional culture dictates that the deceased should be buried with a complete corpse.

Those who register as organ donors often face criticism from their families, relatives, and friends.

If the programme runs effectively and smoothly, the Organ Transplant Centre will has a plentiful source of organ donations once fully operational.

“It’s normal to be hesitant about organ donation when you’re alive, but I am willing to do it when I die. I know that organs are very precious and hospitals are always in need of organs for patients,” said an organ donation registrant at the programme.

Those who want to register for organ donation only need to bring ID cards, 3x4 portrait photos and fill out the registration form available at the programme.

Secretary of the hospital’s Youth Union organisation Hospital Phan Duc Tri said that the National Coordination Centre for Organ Transplantation has allowed the hospital to issue registration cards for tissue and organ donation, thus creating a favourable condition for ensuring fast and highly reliable registration processes.

Reporting by THANH TINH – Translating by A.T