A group of Kenyan high school girls have revolutionised kidney donation by creating a donor app.
The app, developed with the help of their teacher, works as an inclusive doctor-donor-recipient portal that shortens waiting time for organs, and helps especially in a country that doesn’t have a formalised donor system.
Now in its pilot phase, the app is being tested by a number of Kenyan hospitals.
Though South Africa already has an existing system in place, a patient on the kidney transplant waiting list is keen on seeing the innovative app make its way to our shores.
It has been 26 years since Casper Walkers, 66, was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) – a kidney disorder he inherited from his father.
Patients with PKD develop clusters of different-sized cysts (noncancerous round sacs containing water-like fluid) that can grow very large, primarily within their kidneys.
Walkers, an Organ Donor Foundation (ODF) volunteer from Centurion, said the app could, in conjunction with the current system, assist with the process.
“Many people aren’t aware of the difference they could make if they became organ donors. Some patients end up dying after waiting for years for a transplant,” he said.
Walker is one of about 1400 South African adults and children awaiting a kidney transplant.
According to ODF statistics, a patient awaiting a kidney transplant, who does not have a suitable family member or friend who can donate while they are alive, will wait between five to eight years on average for a transplant.
ODF executive director Samantha Nicholls said South Africa was in “desperate need” for more organs, citing the lack of understanding and education as the foundation’s biggest challenge.
She encouraged those who have signed up, or want to, to immediately inform their family.
“In South Africa, even if you have indicated your wish to be an organ donor by signing up with our foundation, the family are ultimately asked for consent at the time of the donor’s death,” Nicholls said.
An estimated 81 kidney transplants were performed in 2014.
A further 3000 patients are awaiting organs like the heart, lung, pancreas and liver transplants.
There are almost 200000 people registered as donors on the ODF database – over 43000 of which signed up last year.
lFor details on becoming an organ donor, visit: www.odf.org.
za or call toll-free 0800-22-66-11
App could help with donors
The app, developed with the help of their teacher, works as an inclusive doctor-donor-recipient portal that shortens waiting time for organs, and helps especially in a country that doesn’t have a formalised donor system.
Now in its pilot phase, the app is being tested by a number of Kenyan hospitals.
Though South Africa already has an existing system in place, a patient on the kidney transplant waiting list is keen on seeing the innovative app make its way to our shores.
It has been 26 years since Casper Walkers, 66, was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) – a kidney disorder he inherited from his father.
Patients with PKD develop clusters of different-sized cysts (noncancerous round sacs containing water-like fluid) that can grow very large, primarily within their kidneys.
Walkers, an Organ Donor Foundation (ODF) volunteer from Centurion, said the app could, in conjunction with the current system, assist with the process.
“Many people aren’t aware of the difference they could make if they became organ donors. Some patients end up dying after waiting for years for a transplant,” he said.
Walker is one of about 1400 South African adults and children awaiting a kidney transplant.
According to ODF statistics, a patient awaiting a kidney transplant, who does not have a suitable family member or friend who can donate while they are alive, will wait between five to eight years on average for a transplant.
ODF executive director Samantha Nicholls said South Africa was in “desperate need” for more organs, citing the lack of understanding and education as the foundation’s biggest challenge.
She encouraged those who have signed up, or want to, to immediately inform their family.
“In South Africa, even if you have indicated your wish to be an organ donor by signing up with our foundation, the family are ultimately asked for consent at the time of the donor’s death,” Nicholls said.
An estimated 81 kidney transplants were performed in 2014.
A further 3000 patients are awaiting organs like the heart, lung, pancreas and liver transplants.
There are almost 200000 people registered as donors on the ODF database – over 43000 of which signed up last year.
lFor details on becoming an organ donor, visit: www.odf.org.
za or call toll-free 0800-22-66-11
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