The Ministry of Health, through the State Department of Medical Services on Tuesday, June 6, urged Kenyans to donate their organs to save lives and offer hope to those in need.
In a statement shared by Kenyatta National Hospital, Dr John Ngigi, the President of the Kenya Renal Association, noted that Kenyans could donate kidneys, livers and eyes.
Acting Deputy Director General State Department of Medical Services, Zeinab Gura, while speaking during World Transplant Day further urged Kenyans to donate their organs through the Kenya Tissue and Transplant Authority (KTTA).
“I am urging citizens to consider organ donation. By becoming donors, we hold the power to save lives and bring hope to those in need,” Gura stated.
She added that the government had taken a significant stride towards organ donation, establishing a national registry to foster organ donation to amplify the importance of saving lives.
“With a resolute focus on overcoming challenges and enhancing healthcare delivery, the ministry is on a mission to revolutionize the landscape of organ donation and transplantation, positioning itself as a beacon of progress,” the Ministry of Health stated.
Gura revealed that willing donors could make an application through HLA Typing Lab at Kenyatta National Hospital, under KTTA.
“We aim to bridge the affordability gap, ensure equitable access to life-saving procedures for all Kenyans,” she explained.
While the common organ donations are kidney and liver, Dr John Ngigi, the President of the Kenya Renal Association, explained why donating eyes was also vital.
“Besides kidneys and liver, the eye can also be donated and become the source of the cornea.
“Tissues too are donated. KTTA assures its readiness to offer strategic support to all the programs offering various transplantations in Kenya,” he stated.
On October 21, 2022, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned Kenyans to be wary of human traffickers posing as recruitment agencies for lucrative jobs abroad.
The ministry revealed that 50 Kenyans had already been rescued before they could lose their organs to the international syndicate.
