DOH: Organ Donors Are Heroes, One Donor Can Save Eight Lives

To celebrate the spirit of working together, the Department of Health (DOH) today commemorated the National Organ and Blood Awareness Week by recognizing organ donors as modern day heroes.

In the June 29 ​Beat COVID-19 Virtual Presser​, Health OIC-Undersecretary Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire discussed the importance of organ donation and how Filipinos can contribute to the program headed by Dr. Francisco Escueta-Sarmiento, the program manager of the Philippine Organ Donation and Transplantation Program (PODTP).

“Maaaring dumating ang panahon na hindi na mag fu-function ng maayos ang ilang parte ng ating katawan, at kakailanganing palitan ito ng mas malusog na organ,” said Vergeire. “Ngunit kahit gustuhin man natin at may kakayahan, hindi parating may available na organ at madalas ay limitado ang ating options. Organ donation is managed by the PODTP and the Philippine Network for Organ Sharing (PhilNOS).

Organ donation is a completely free and voluntary process. According to Sarmiento, a single donor can save up to eight lives, while human tissue, such as skin and bone marrow, can save and improve lives of up to 50 people.

Sarmiento encouraged the public to be open minded with organ and tissue donation. “Kahit po tayo ay pumanaw na, mas magiging makabuluhan ang ating buhay dahil maililipat po natin ang bahagi ng ating katawan sa iba pang naghihintay at nangangailangan ng ating tulong.”

Interested donors may reach out to the DOH and PhilNOS to sign up for a LifeLine card, which adds volunteers to the national registry of organ donors. By building a nationwide network of people who promote organ donation, patients who require surgery have a better chance of receiving the organs they need.

“Katulad ng blood donation, ang organ at tissue donation ay selfless acts,” said Vergeire. “Sa pamamagaitan ng pag-volunteer ng ating dugo, organ o anumang tissue, makakatulong tayo sa mga taong nasa kritikal na kundisyon at sa ating sarili upang manatiling malusog sa laban sa COVID-19.” (DOH PR)