21 December 2013| last updated at 04:08PM
By Olivia Miwil | olivia@mediaprima.com.my
KOTA KINABALU: With over 17,000 patients still on the waiting list for organ donations, the Sabah Transplant Resource Centre embarked on a mission to help encourage more people to sign up as donors.
Some 150 doctors, nurses and assistant medical officers from various government hospitals recently joined members of the public on a walk at a park here to help explain about the life-saving procedures.
STRC regional transplant procurement management unit manager Dr Cheah Phee Kheng said the most common obstacle in the process was the delay in persuading the families and next-of-kin to carry out the donors' wishes.
"The donor need to inform and explain to their families to avoid delays in harvesting the organs as many families balk at the last minute.
“We need to act fast as certain parts of the body needed to be harvested within the shortest period to ensure they can be used," he said.
In country up till June this year, there are 17,102 patients are waiting for kidney ; liver (14); heart (five); lungs (seven) and heart and lung (four) transplants.
He said a recent study among health workers and student nurses in Sabah found that only 32.2 per cent of respondents would consider donating their organs after death.
Dr Chead added that organ donation was an complex issue as it involved emotions, beliefs and religious considerations, among others.
"We hope to reach out to the public and help them understand," he said.
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Dr Cheah Phee Kheng |
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