The Organ Donor Foundation says only 0.2% of the South African population are registered as organ donors. The Foundation’s Julie Purkis says the number of organ and tissue transplants has decreased substantially during the COVID-19 pandemic. South Africa observes Organ Donor Month this August.
“Kidneys would have to rate the highest on the list of most needed organs in South Africa. Many patients suffer kidney failure as a result of complications resulting from diabetes. Currently, there are around 5000 adults and children awaiting lifesaving organ transplants and in KZN (KwaZulu-Natal) alone there are approximately 850 patients awaiting both organ and tissue transplants,” says Purkis.
“The number of people awaiting transplants has increased dramatically. The patients desperately awaiting a lifesaving organ transplant will have to wait longer still, with many dying in the interim,” adds Purkis.
