By Olivia Miwil 15 October 2016 @1035am
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KOTA KINABALU: There are 20,774 Malaysians on waiting lists for organ transplants as of August this year.
Patients who need kidneys stand at 20,751, while others need livers (6); lungs (6); heart (1); lungs and hearts (6).
National Organ Donation Public Awareness Action Committee chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said that to date, 362,667 people in the country, including 13,000 from Sabah, have pledged themselves as organ donors.
“There has been an increase in the number of pledgers over the years, but the ratio to the population is still low,” he said after a 6-km fun walk with 1,083 participants held in conjunction with National Organ Donation Awareness Week 2016 at the Sabah Museum here.
Figures show that only 1.4 per cent of Malaysians are willing to donate their organs to save others’ lives.
Lee said various awareness campaigns and activities have been held over the years to encourage more people to pledge as organ donors.
“Since two years ago, the campaign strategy has been to approach people on the ground.
“It has brought fruitful results, with hundreds of people pledging as organ donors during each drive,” he said, adding that the majority of pledgers are enthusiastic students and young people.
Meanwhile, Regional Transplant and Procurement manager Dr Cheah Phee Kheng said organ donation services are available at 24 specialist and district hospitals in the state and Labuan.
Also present at the fun walk was state health director Datuk Dr Christina Rundi.
Related articles
1. Organ transplants in Msia hampered by poor quality organs, few donors
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KOTA KINABALU: There are 20,774 Malaysians on waiting lists for organ transplants as of August this year.
Patients who need kidneys stand at 20,751, while others need livers (6); lungs (6); heart (1); lungs and hearts (6).
National Organ Donation Public Awareness Action Committee chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said that to date, 362,667 people in the country, including 13,000 from Sabah, have pledged themselves as organ donors.
“There has been an increase in the number of pledgers over the years, but the ratio to the population is still low,” he said after a 6-km fun walk with 1,083 participants held in conjunction with National Organ Donation Awareness Week 2016 at the Sabah Museum here.
Figures show that only 1.4 per cent of Malaysians are willing to donate their organs to save others’ lives.
Lee said various awareness campaigns and activities have been held over the years to encourage more people to pledge as organ donors.
“Since two years ago, the campaign strategy has been to approach people on the ground.
“It has brought fruitful results, with hundreds of people pledging as organ donors during each drive,” he said, adding that the majority of pledgers are enthusiastic students and young people.
Meanwhile, Regional Transplant and Procurement manager Dr Cheah Phee Kheng said organ donation services are available at 24 specialist and district hospitals in the state and Labuan.
Also present at the fun walk was state health director Datuk Dr Christina Rundi.
Related articles
1. Organ transplants in Msia hampered by poor quality organs, few donors
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