HMC launches organ donation awareness drive

As part of the drive launched last year by Her Highness Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser to organ donation in the country, the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) organized an awareness day at Qatar University (QU) on Monday, 2 May, 2011.

The awareness day includes a series of lectures addressing many issues including Islamic Shariah opinion on organ donation, types of organ transplant and latest developments in Qatar. 

“This workshop comes as part of the awareness activities provided by HMC to various segments of the society, which is now targeting the educated class. It is aimed at encouraging organ donation and spotlighting the level of medical services provided by the corporation to the community,” said Dr. Riyadh Abdulsattar, Consultant Kidney Transplant at HMC.

”In addition to its persistent awareness campaigns targeting the public at large, HMC launched a number of awareness campaigns for its medical staff and nurses as well as for the patients and set up specific guiding principles and regulations to deal with the donors based on the provisions stipulated by Doha Donation Accord which was endorsed by HH Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser, Vice Chairperson of the Supreme Council of Health (SCH),” Dr. Abdulsattar said.

Dr. Abdulsattar further explained that all these procedures come in the context of Doha Donation Accord, a mutual agreement between HMC and the International Association for Organ Donation, which includes a set of ideas that encourage organ donation and honoring organ donors as well.

“We intend to serve our patients by performing more and more organ transplant; however, our efforts are deterred by the lack of sufficient organ donors to meet our needs to save patients’ lives. We undoubtedly need to educate the public on the merits of organ donation as a noble humanitarian practice which saves human lives,” concluded Dr. Abdulsattar.