Experts call for national organ transplantation programme

Representatives of health and charitable organisations from across the UAE participated in the forum held in Abu Dhabi.

As many as 19 patients in the UAE were benefitted from organ donation process as transplant of human organs from six donors who suffered brain death were successfully conducted.
At a forum that took place in Abu Dhabi, national and international experts emphasised the importance of collaboration among governmental, private and charitable organisations, in order to develop sustainable national human organ transplantation programme that serves patients with organ failure.
Dr Ali Karim Al Obaidli, Chairman of the National Committee for Organ Transplantation, stated that the forum was held to discuss the compliance of all UAE health entities to unify organ donation standards, tasks, responsibilities and methodology to report brain death.
Performance indicators and best practices in the field of organ donation were reviewed to provide hospitals with the required knowledge and support, and to establish integration between them at a national level.
The forum attracted numerous attendees, with participation from leading experts in organ donation from Spain and Italy, as well as representatives from health and charitable organisations from across the UAE.
Hamad bin Salem Al Ameri, director-general of the Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, said the foundation continues to support the humanitarian efforts by providing health programmes along with educational and social projects to end the sufferings of patients and to provide effective medical treatments for patients from lower income groups who cannot cover their treatment costs.
Al Ameri praised the scientific efforts provided by the National Organ Transplantation Committee, in keeping pace with rapid developments in the UAE.
An interactive session was also held on the sidelines of the forum for charity representatives, where they discussed a range of initiatives to support the National Organ Transplantation Programme.
Dr Al Obaidli said that the National Organ Transplantation Committee has an agreement with Marathon Zayed Charity Committee, in cooperation with key partners, to organise the Zayed Charity Marathon in Abu Dhabi before the year-end to support the initiation of the human organ and tissue donation programme in UAE.
The event aims to increase public awareness on prevention of organ failure.
jasmine@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi