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January 24, 2015

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Organ donation scheme helps 180 recipients

MORE than 180 people have benefited from organs donated by Shanghai members of a program run by the Red Cross Society of China.

Since the scheme was rolled out across the country in February 2013 — a pilot version had been in operation since 2010 — 3,622 people living in the city have signed up to donate their organs on their death, according to the Shanghai branch of the charity.

Of the 183 recipients of organs from 64 donors, almost 100 people regained their sight, it said.

Despite the success of the program, the idea of donating organs after death remains taboo for many Chinese.

“The traditional concept that the body is inherited from our parents and should not be given away to others makes people hesitant about organ donation,” said Tang Zhaoxiang, an official with the organ donation office at the charity’s Shanghai branch.

But there are signs that perceptions are changing.

“The number of organ donations is gradually rising, but difficulties remain,” said Wen Daxiang, deputy director of Renji Hospital.

Even though people have volunteered for the program, on their deaths, families often try to stop their organs from being harvested, he said.

“We spend a lot of time speaking to relatives about the wishes of their departed loved ones,” Wen said.

Last year, the hospital carried out 111 liver transplant procedures on children aged from 5 months to 15 years, 30 of which involved organs donated through the scheme.

Just a fortnight ago, a 4-year-old girl received a new liver through the program.

The child’s mother said she would join the donor scheme as a sign of her gratitude.

In 2013, organs were harvested from just five Shanghai members of the scheme. That figure rose to 55 last year and four have been recorded in 2015.




 

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