The recent proposal by the Kenya Tissue and Transplant Authority to draft regulations to set off a bill to regulate the donation of functional internal organs is welcome.
Organ donations, on one hand, have given people a new lease of life but on the other led to illegality in some countries with reports of forced donation and false declaration of clinical deaths. Such malpractices are prevalent in the absence of water-tight legislation.
Discussions on vital organ donations and subsequent procedures have usually taken multi-dimensional angles. Proponents and opposers are sharply divided along scientific, medical, religious and even mythical lines.
Opposers point to the declaration of a person as dead by some medics targeting organs, consent for donation, actual beneficiaries as well as illegal trafficking of organs.
Those for it argue that there is no point in wasting vital organs once a person is dead owing to the dire shortage of voluntary donors and current world-over high cost of transplants and associated care.
The ensuing debate has come forth after proposal by Kenyans which is a healthy conversation. This will shape and sharpen the legal framework that the National Tissue and Organ Transplant Technical Committee has been tasked to formulate.
My plea to the committee is to avail as many avenues as possible for Kenyans to submit their views for consideration. There should be an awareness programme to reach as many as possible backed by scientific breakdowns on this matter to allay fears and bust some myths on this subject that are deeply entrenched in some people’s faith and cultural dispositions.
I foresee once the necessary regulatory instruments are in place, this initiative results in having a national ‘organ bank’ that must prioritise the underprivileged patients in our society.
It is time for Kenyans to support such a move that is a factor in redefining our health sector reforms. Weird as it may sound, I would encourage people to make written declarations consenting to donation of their vital organs upon death.
Practising communication practitioner
