![At the launch of the organ donation drive were from left, Western Cape Minister of Health, Theuns Botha, Samantha Volschenk of the Organ Donor Foundation, Dr Bhavna Patel, CEO of Groote Schuur Hospital, and transplant surgeon, Dr Elmie Muller. Minister of Health Theuns Botha launches organ donor drive at Groote Schuur Hospital](https://www.westerncape.gov.za/sites/www.westerncape.gov.za/files/organ-donor-drive-4-feb-2014.jpg)
The Western Cape Minister of Health, Theuns Botha, launched an organ donor drive at Groote Schuur Hospital – the hospital where the world’s first heart transplant took place in 1967.
In his address, Minister Botha said the courage of the first two donor heart recipients, Mr Louis Washkansky and Dr Phillip Blaiberg, in literally trusting Barnard with their lives, cannot be overstated.
“But perhaps the greatest admiration of all belongs to the families of the late Edward Darval and Dorothy Haupt, who in their individual moments of grief, agreed to let the organs of their loved ones be harvested for the benefit of Washkansky and Blaiberg. Their gifts to these two patients were gestures of the utmost selflessness, giving hope to two dying men, and allowing Christiaan Barnard to follow his destiny as a medical pioneer.”
Minister Botha said patients are dying because of a shortage of organ donations that could save lives and patients waiting for organs require ongoing care while their health deteriorates, which places an increased burden on the health services.
“By becoming an organ donor, you could save the lives of up to seven people. It’s not only organs that are transplanted, but other tissue is also used, for example, skin can be transplanted onto patients with severe burns. We are currently also exploring the possibility of opening a skin bank to assist children and adults with burns.
There are approximately 4 300 South African adults and children awaiting a lifesaving organ transplant. The organ donation rates in South Africa is one of the lowest in the world.
At the launch Minister Botha said Western Cape Government Health is partnering with the Organ Donor Foundation, an NGO that is passionate about this cause. The Organ Donor Foundation keeps a database of all potential donors.
They currently have 103 000 donors registered nationally, of whom two-thirds are women. The percentage of registered organ donors per population is only 0.18% and in the Western Cape, it is 0.39 % of the population.
“Once again, the Western Cape is leading in terms of registrations per population. But, this is nowhere near enough. We need to start the conversation about organ donation – with our families and with our friends.
Minister Botha said the Western Cape will follow through with organ donor drives at the province’s hospitals, also in rural areas, and ask other provinces to follow suit.
History of Organ Transplants
Hélène Rossouw
Spokesperson for Theuns Botha, Minister of Health
Tel: 021 483 4426
Cell: 082 771 8834
E-mail: helene.rossouw@westerncape.gov.za