FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
17 August 2010
TUT’S CENTRE FOR TISSUE ENGINEERING URGES SOUTH AFRICANS TO
EMBRACE ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION AT ALL TIMES
The Tshwane University of Technology’s Centre for Tissue Engineering (CTE) urges
South Africans to donate tissues and organs throughout their lives and not only wait for
national campaigns.
August is regarded as an international organ donor month. It is also recognised as a
Women’s Month in South Africa.
Ms Sandra van den Berg of the CTE said that it is good that there are national
campaigns aimed at alerting or encouraging the society to rally behind certain good
causes.
“However, communities should take it upon themselves to embrace such causes
throughout their lives. In that way more people are likely to benefit from the goodwill and
gesture of the population,” she added.
There is a huge demand for organs and tissues but less supply. Currently, in 2010,
about 3 500 people are on the waiting list for organ donor transplants, but sadly only
about 800 will receive that life-saving organ this year. Those on the list for possible
receipt of donated tissue stand at around 35 000.
Not many people think of donating their organs or tissues, until a day something tragic
happens to them and they find themselves in need of organs or tissues. Reasons vary
from lack of knowledge to religious and cultural beliefs.
In South Africa donating organs or tissues is voluntary whilst in some other countries,
like Spain, every citizen is automatically declared a donor unless he/she states
otherwise.
According to van den Berg, some people do not understand the difference between
organs and tissues.
“Organs refer to heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and pancreas. Tissue refers to bone,
cartilage, tendons, heart valves, skin and cornea. Organs are removed from people
when they are declared brain dead in hospital and tissue may be removed several
hours and even days after a person has already reached the mortuary. Some of the
people in need of tissue donations are burn victims, cancer patients or hip replacement
candidates,” said Van den Berg.
Bone allograft is the term used to describe a bone graft donated by one person for
transplantation into another. Musculo-skeletal bone, tendons and cartilage are retrieved
from the limbs (arms and legs) of the donor after his death. Unlike organs, no tissue
compatibility is necessary, therefore anyone can donate bone and anyone can receive
it.
The Centre for Tissue Engineering (CTE) at the Tshwane University of Technology was
started in 2002 with the aim to provide in the increasing demand of bone tissue for
transplantation and also to research and develop new treatments for patients. The
Centre is recognised and approved by the National Department of Health, SAPS and
complies with all government legislation. In June 2006 the CTE acquired the much
acclaimed ISO 9001:2000 accreditation for retrieval, processing and supply of bone
tissue for transplantation. The accreditation was subsequently upgraded to the ISO
9001:2008 and also the ISO 13485 for medical devices. The Centre is also a member of
the Organ Donor Foundation and the South African Transplant Society.
Van den Berg emphasised that heart, lung, liver and kidney transplants save many
lives.
“A cornea transplant can restore sight to a blind person and the donation of bone tissue
could spare someone from having a limb amputated. The shortage of bone tissue,
corneas, and skin is very alarming. Most people are unaware of the possibilities that
bone tissue donation affords patients and that your decision to be a tissue donor could
benefit a variety of people of all ages.”
Donors are spread all over the country and the people working with retrieving organs
have to travel to different places to reach the donor or the recipient. In some instances,
commercial flights are used but from time to time they are completely dependent on the
good will of corporate business that might sponsor a “flight for life” jet, through the
Organ Donor Foundation, to reach the donors or recipients.
No medical examination or tests are required to register as a donor, but prior to
donation, the medical history of a donor will be obtained. A potential donor can also get
a donor card from relevant organisations and keep it with them at all times.
NB. See accompanying document providing answers to frequently asked questions
related to organ and tissue donation. For more information on TUT’s Centre for Tissue
Engineering, please call 012 349 3500 or send an e-mail to vandenbergs@tut.ac.za
END
_____________________________________________________________________
For more media information on the Tshwane University of Technology, please contact:
Gilbert Mokwatedi
Tel: 012 382 4291
Cell: 083 713 4478
E-mail: mokwatedimg@tut.ac.za