Namibia to observe Organ Donor month

AUGUST is Organ Donor month in southern Africa and for the first time Namibia is also participating in the commemoration.

The Namibia Organ Donor Foundation (NODF) was founded in 2003 and its four main objectives are; to raise public and medical staff’s awareness on organ donation and the benefits thereof, to assist pre-and post transplant patients, to raise money for the foundation and to put up a reliable organ donor data base. People aged under 65, who have a good health history, can donate organs.Interested people can contact the NODF and fill out a detailed form.If a donor is declared brain dead and on artificial respiratory support the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs and pancreas can be harvested and transplanted within 4 to 6 hours.If the donor has died already the skin, corneas, heart valves and bones can be donated as soon as possible.There are also living donors who donate especially kidneys to family members while alive.Bone marrow can also be donated while alive.There are about 20-30 people living in Namibia who are waiting for various organs.One organ donor can help between seven to 10 people to lead a better live.To raise funds for the NODF and awareness among the public about organ donation the foundation has a number of events planned.Hein Sachse, a founding member of the foundation and post transplant patient, will walk from Okahandja to Windhoek on August 12 and 13.On Saturday morning, August 14, Stefan Ludik from the Big Brother House and Egoli and Miss Namibia 2004 Adele Basson will be at Maerua Mall for an awareness campaign.In the evening a dinner will be held at the Windhoek Country Club with Stefan and comedians Lazarus Jacobs and Neville Basson performing.People aged under 65, who have a good health history, can donate organs.Interested people can contact the NODF and fill out a detailed form.If a donor is declared brain dead and on artificial respiratory support the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs and pancreas can be harvested and transplanted within 4 to 6 hours.If the donor has died already the skin, corneas, heart valves and bones can be donated as soon as possible.There are also living donors who donate especially kidneys to family members while alive.Bone marrow can also be donated while alive.There are about 20-30 people living in Namibia who are waiting for various organs.One organ donor can help between seven to 10 people to lead a better live.To raise funds for the NODF and awareness among the public about organ donation the foundation has a number of events planned.Hein Sachse, a founding member of the foundation and post transplant patient, will walk from Okahandja to Windhoek on August 12 and 13.On Saturday morning, August 14, Stefan Ludik from the Big Brother House and Egoli and Miss Namibia 2004 Adele Basson will be at Maerua Mall for an awareness campaign.In the evening a dinner will be held at the Windhoek Country Club with Stefan and comedians Lazarus Jacobs and Neville Basson performing.