The donated body can save someone’s life or improve their quality. On the occasion of Saturday’s European Donation Day of Authorities, the Slovak Transplantology Society (STS) pointed out.
“The more organs talk about the transplantation of the authorities, the more information the public has, the better it is. Let’s not take the organs to heaven. They need their patients who still live on Earth,” The main expert for organ transplants Zuzana Žilinská. She pointed out that donation is not only a professional or medical topic, but also saves money in health care. “It touches each of us. Once we can find ourselves as a patient and sometimes in the donor’s position. That is why, according to the expert, it is important that we talk openly about this topic, even if it does not directly apply to us right now”Added the expert.
Doctor Katarína Kocingerová from the Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitation Medicine of the University Hospital Bratislava Ružinov made it clear that Relatives of potential donors often disagree. “Someone close to them. I therefore try to explain to them that by donating organs, this death could gain at least some sense. If they refuse, it’s like a double tragedy. Not only a person dies but does not even see a patient whose donated organ could save life or at least improve his quality,“She explained.
STS perceives this day as an opportunity to talk about a topic that decides on life and deathbut it is still accompanied by prejudice and lack of information. However, thanks to the educational campaigns, the situation is gradually improving and donation is becoming a more natural part of the social debate.
The campaign of the Seven Lives implemented by the Slovak Transplantology Society is involved in this day with several activities. “We are preparing several activities within the regional transplant centers or media outputs. We have also distributed the promotional materials of the Seven Lives initiative, where people will find all important information,” said Žilinská.
In 2024 there were 108 organ donors in Slovakia, which allowed 224 transplants. “Thanks to 42 living kidney donors, we have even been more successful than some advanced Western European countries. It is an encouraging result, but at the same time a reminder that without further public awareness and public support, all patients who are still waiting for the new organ will not be able to help,” He noted the main transplant coordinator Martin Chrastina.
