The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has organized an awareness-raising workshop on the National Programme for Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation, “Hayat” for employees of the Ministry of Economy.
The workshop aimed to enhance cooperation between the Ministry of Health and other government entities, spreading awareness about the critical role of organ donation in saving the lives of patients with organ failure.
It is part of a series of awareness initiatives targeting various government sectors, supporting efforts to improve public health and quality of life across the country.
The workshop, held at the Ministry of Economy’s headquarters in Dubai, was attended by His Excellency Dr. Amin Hussain Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary of Health Regulations Sector, Her Excellency Badria Al Maidoor, Assistant Undersecretary of Support Services Sector at Ministry of Economy and Dr. Ali Abdulkarim Al Obaidli, Chairman of the National Committee for Organ Transplantation. Experts and specialists in organ transplantation, alongside officials from MoHAP and the Ministry of Economy, were also present. 

Raising awareness

The event aimed to raise awareness about the life-saving role of organ donation and how it can significantly improve the quality of life for patients through organ or tissue transplantation. 
It featured inspiring success stories of organ transplants carried out in the country and provided employees with guidelines on how to register for the Hayat program. The workshop also highlighted the eligibility criteria, with the goal of increasing program registrations and promoting the culture of organ donation as a noble humanitarian act that restores hope to patients.
Increasing organ transplants 
Dr. Amin Hussain Al Amiri emphasised that organizing such workshops is a significant step towards promoting the culture of organ donation within the community.
He highlighted that the UAE has made remarkable progress in organ transplantation over recent years, reflecting the government's commitment to providing comprehensive healthcare to its citizens. 
Dr. Al Amiri noted that organ donation plays a fundamental role in saving the lives of patients with organ failure and ensuring the sustainability of the UAE's healthcare system.
His Excellency further explained that continuous awareness campaigns about organ donation are part of ongoing government efforts to increase the number of donors and provide organs to patients facing life-threatening conditions. 
He added that these awareness initiatives offer a valuable opportunity to engage directly with community members, delivering accurate information on organ donation, its procedures, and its life-saving benefits. His Excellency pointed out that the number of organ transplants is constantly increasing, with more than 958 operations so far.

More than 30,000 donors

For his part, Dr. Ali Abdulkarim Al Obaidli stated that the UAE, in collaboration with health institutions, medical professionals, and governmental and non-governmental organisations, is not only implementing comprehensive plans to promote organ donation and sharing information, expertise, and technologies both locally and internationally, but also establishing standards to support organ and tissue donation and creating a streamlined mechanism for individuals to register their intent to donate after death.
This initiative has led to over 30,000 donors registering in the Hayat program, reflecting the growing societal awareness of its significance. Al Obaidli noted that the program has successfully facilitated numerous organ transplant operations, saving the lives of dozens of patients.

Testimonies from donors

The workshop featured a detailed presentation on the Hayat program, highlighting the ethical and legal dimensions of organ and tissue donation and their role in saving patients' lives. It also included testimonies from donors in the UAE and patients who received organ transplants, along with an overview of the laws and regulations governing organ donation in the UAE. Additionally, the workshop explored local and international partnerships in this field