40 Thousand Await Organ Transplant in Turkey, 8 Thousand Added Yearly
Aliağa raises awareness for organ donation during Organ Donation Week
As part of Organ Donation Week, a stand was set up in Aliağa to inform and raise awareness among citizens about the importance of organ donation. The stand, located in Democracy Square, received a positive response from the public, with the District Health Directorate teams providing information and accepting organ and tissue donations from volunteers.
One notable volunteer was Duygu Değirmeci, a Master’s student in Biomedical Engineering at Izmir Katip Çelebi University, who voluntarily donated an organ at the stand. Her act drew attention to the crucial need for organ donation in Turkey.
During the event, District Health Director Dr. Özkan Orhun emphasized the importance of raising public awareness and encouraging organ donation. He pointed out that approximately 40 thousand people are currently waiting for organ transplantation in Turkey, with an average of 8 thousand people being added to the waiting list every year. Unfortunately, the number of donors is not increasing at the same rate, leading to the annual death of approximately 2,500 patients who are unable to find suitable organs for transplantation.
Dr. Orhun highlighted the fact that organ transplantation is often the only way for many patients to return to a normal life and is a vital guarantee of survival for individuals with certain diseases. He urged citizens to realize the significance of organ donation and to consider donating their organs to give others a chance at life.
The stand in Aliağa serves as a reminder of the urgent need for organ donation and the impact it can have on saving lives. It is hoped that events like these will encourage more people to consider registering as organ donors and ultimately contribute to reducing the organ transplant waiting list in Turkey.
