Here’s a common question: What will happen to us after death? While we do not have an answer to the afterlife, one thing for sure, we’re living in the present. There are so many things and ways that we, as a citizen can contribute back to the society. One of the ways is by donating our organs and tissues after death. It might sound intimidating, but hear us out.
What You Need to Know About Organ Donations in Malaysia:
According to Health Ministry statistics in 2019, only 431,833 or 1.3 per cent of Malaysians have pledged as organ donors. The numbers are really low as compared to other developing countries.
Did you know that a dialysis patient spends about 12 to 15 years waiting for a kidney transplant? Dr Fadhlina Zakaria of the National Kidney Foundation Malaysia (NKF) said more than 20,000 patients are on the waiting list for organ transplants.
As a Malaysian, we think we can do more than that. Donating organs and tissues after death helps to save lives and improves the quality of life for people who are in need. Generally, no religion prevents its followers from donating their organs, as it is considered as a noble practice.
Besides saving lives, if you’re registered as an organ and tissue donor, all hospital charges are exempted from the day of admission until death, given if you’re admitted to government hospitals.
A donor who agreed on deceased donations can donate the organs and tissues as follow:
Organs:
- Heart
- Lung
- Liver
- Kidney
Tissues:
- Heart Valves
- Eyes (cornea)
- Bones
- Skin
Not to mention one can only donate their organs when the heart stops beating, brain death or pronounced dead by a doctor. Do note that process of organ donation will not cause any mutilation or disfiguration on the body, so an open-casket funeral is possible.
How to Register/ Know If Qualified To Be An Organ Donor in Malaysia:
If you’re interested to be an organ donor, first of all, thank you! There are several ways to pledge as an organ donor, four to be exact, and procedures are fairly simple and free. Here’s how:
- Online Registration
- Register youself at DermaOrgan.gov.my (online registration is not available until July 2021)
- Fill up your information and submit your form, be sure to inform your family about your decision
- You’ll receive a confirmation email soon, and your organ donation card will be mailed to you.
2. Registration Via E-mail
- Send an email to ntrc@moh.gov.my with subject ‘I WANT TO PLEDGE’ or ‘SAYA NAK IKRAR.’
- The National Transplant Resource Centre will send you a registration form to fill in.
- You will receive an organ donor pledge card by mail within four to six weeks upon successful submission.
3. Registration Via Physical Mail
- Fill in the organ donation registration form here, and print it out.
- Send it to:
National Transplant Resource Center
(Pusat Sumber Transplan Nasional)
Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Pahang,
50586 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
4. Manually fill up registration form at government clinics or hospitals
Anyone can sign up to be an organ and tissue donor except those suffering from infectious diseases such as HIV- AIDS, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis. There’s no age restriction, but if you’re age 18 and below, written permission from parents is required.
Foodies, are you an organ donor? If not, you may pledge to be one anytime as the gift of life is everyone’s to give. Don’t forget to share this out to your friends and family members, that’s all, take care, and buh bye!
Source: Free Malaysia Today, Malay Mail, Derma Organ, My Health
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