The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has announced the launch of an eight-day awareness campaign in conjunction with World Organ Donation Day, which falls on August 13 every year.
The campaign aims to increase awareness about the importance of organ donation and promote the National Program for Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation, "Hayat", which strives to establish the UAE as a model in the field of organ and tissue transplantation at both regional and global levels.
The initiative also celebrates the UAE's achievements in organ transfer and preservation, showcasing the substantial growth in organ donation culture among the nation's residents and the increased number of donors.
Field Tours
As part of the campaign, "Hayat" staff will be conducting field tours in shopping malls across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, and Sharjah, along with visits to several government entities. The public can interact with the campaign at prominent locations such as Yas Mall, Gallery Mall, Bawadi Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Festival City, City Centre Mirdif, and City Centre Sharjah from August 13 to 20.
Additionally, official tours will run from August 14 to 18, visiting private and public entities including Ministries of Health, Finance, Education, Foreign Affairs, Defense, Dubai Police, and Dubai Healthcare City. This is in addition to Zayed Military Hospital, Pakistan Medical Center, and Al Qassimi Women’s and Children’s Hospital. The shopping center tours will be held on weekdays between 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM and on holidays between 10:00 AM to 12:00 midnight. The government entities tours will take place from 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM.
"Hayat" offers every UAE resident above the age of 21 the opportunity to pledge their organs after brain death, providing a lifeline for patients and imparting a positive impact on both donor and recipient lives. It plays a crucial role in alleviating patient pain, saving lives, reducing hospital burdens, and cutting treatment costs.
Direct engagement with community
HE Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for the Health Regulation Sector at MoHAP, emphasized the crucial role that continuous awareness-raising efforts play in supporting the national strategy, which was developed to boost the number of donors, thus increasing the organ availability for patients suffering from chronic or life-threatening illnesses.
He further emphasized that the ongoing campaign, inclusive of awareness tours, opens up avenues for direct engagement with community members, enabling the dissemination of factual information about organ donation, its procedural aspects, and its broader health and humanitarian implications.
Dr. Al Amiri went on to say, "Alongside propagating the virtues of organ donation within the community, the campaign intends to dispel misconceptions and illuminate facts about organ donation through open dialogues and discussions among individuals, families, and the wider society. This approach encourages a culture of organ donation and elevates awareness of its significance in enhancing the life quality of patients suffering from organ failure, heart disease, lung, liver and kidney failure, and."
Dr. Al Amiri also highlighted that the UAE is equipped with top-notch resources that significantly contribute to the success of the organ transplantation program. "From skilled medical personnel, superior health facilities, robust technological infrastructure, to strategic international partnerships with esteemed institutions specializing in organ transplantation, the UAE possesses the optimal capabilities for running a successful organ transplantation program,” he added.
Positive Interaction
For her part, Dr. Maria Gomez, Organ Transplant Expert and Director of the National Centre for Organ Donation and Transplantation of MOHAP, stated, "The campaign, which was launched to mark World Organ Donation Day, provides a significant platform to underscore the importance of organ donation and familiarize the community with its potential benefits. 'Hayat', is instrumental in spreading awareness and knowledge regarding organ donation and its life-saving implications among various community members.
She further elaborated that a key objective of the eight-day campaign is to offer firsthand information about the gift of life of organ donation. She said, "Encouraging UAE community to know more about organ donation will help to demystify this concept among society."
Significantly, the UAE has attained considerable milestones in the regulation and preservation of human organs and tissues, striving relentlessly to devise sustainable solutions for a vast patient population. This progress underlines the essential role of the National Centre to Regulate Human Organs and Tissues Transplantation, established within the Ministry of Health and Prevention. The center, working in tandem with Hayat Program, bolsters the country's health system, enhancing medical and social care for organ donation and transplantation in accordance with international quality standards and ethical practices.
In line with this, MoHAP invites all UAE citizens and residents to express their intent for organ donation by registering on the Al-Hayat platform. Registrations can be made through the following link: https://mohap.gov.ae/en/hayat