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Visit the Organ Donor Foundation website at www.odf.org.za or call Toll Free: 0800
22 66 11 to register. You will receive an information pack with an organ and tissue
donor card and stickers. Most importantly, we ask you to discuss your decision with
your family. Ask them to please “SAY YES” to organ and tissue donation.
The enormous task of public awareness and education in South Africa is of crucial
importance because the current number of 4,300 children and adults awaiting
lifesaving organ and cornea transplants is escalating every month. We can anticipate
that in the not so distant future, these numbers might become pandemic. This is
exacerbated by the poor lifestyle choices of many South Africans that result in an
increase in diabetes and hypertension, which can lead to chronic kidney disease and
ultimately kidney failure. According to the National Kidney Foundation one in 10
people suffer from chronic kidney disease and ten thousand South African, men and
women, young and old, will die of kidney disease or kidney failure annually.
The Organ Donor Foundation (ODF) is a non-profit charity established in 1988, aiming
to addressing the critical shortage of organ and tissue donors in South Africa. As the
national umbrella body for the promotion of organ and tissue donation, the ODF is
actively involved in educational and publicity programmes directed at the public. We
measure our success of public awareness against our database of registered organ
donors.
The Organ Donor Foundation is NOT a medical organisation. We are not involved with
the allocation or procurement of organs or any medical related processes concerned
with transplantation. As a non-profit organisation, our main focus is to encourage the
public to register as organ and tissue donors via our toll free line and our website.
Our public awareness drives include administering a toll free line and an interactive
website, where the public can register as organ and tissue donors. Apart from Social
Media Drives we also produce and distribute promotional material used throughout
the country for education and awareness.
Your heart, liver and pancreas can save three lives and your kidneys and lungs can help
up to 4 people. You can save seven lives. You can help up to 50 people by donating
your corneas, skin, bone and heart valves. Often family members will donate one of
their kidneys to a relative in need.
The ODF believes organ and tissue donors give people who have suffered long-term
illness hope for a healthy and dramatically improved quality of life. By registering to
become an organ and tissue donor, you could give an only living parent another
chance to look after their children, give a future to a child and added years with family
to a sister or brother.
Despite our many cultural and religious differences, the ODF believes that with the
right education and information we can come together to understand the issues
surrounding the subject of organ and tissue donation.