Every year, November 3-9 is celebrated as "Organ and Tissue Donation Week" to emphasize the importance of organ and tissue donation and to raise awareness in the community. Diseases that can only be treated through organ and tissue transplantation are significant health issues both in our country and globally; this week aims to increase organ donation rates.
Organ transplantation involves replacing a non-functioning organ in the body with a healthy organ obtained from a living donor or a deceased donor. While alive, a person can, of their own free will, allow their organs and tissues to be used for the treatment of others after medically confirmed death, and they can document this wish. Each organ donation represents a new hope for life, and an increase in donations shines a light of hope for the thousands of patients waiting for transplants.
Despite Turkey having a strong infrastructure for organ transplantation, experienced transplant teams, and modern transplant centers, one of the biggest issues is the low rate of deceased donations. The organ donation process in our country is managed by the Ministry of Health through the "Turkey Organ and Tissue Transplant Information System" in a fair and transparent manner. In addition to organs like kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, pancreas, and small intestine, tissues such as bones, bone marrow, corneas, and heart valves can also be transplanted.
Citizens wishing to donate organs can initiate the donation process by applying to provincial health directorates, hospitals, organ transplant centers, or family health centers. Those who want to donate must sign a document in the presence of two witnesses to obtain an organ donation card and carry this card with them. Anyone who is 18 years old and mentally competent can share the hope of life through organ donation.
As Istanbul Rumeli University, we invite all our citizens to take this meaningful step during Organ and Tissue Donation Week and remind everyone that each donation can save a life.
