Organ Donation Day is observed globally on August 13 annually to promote awareness about the vital importance of organ donation and transplantation. In 2024, the theme for Organ Donation Day is “Be the Reason for Someone’s Smile Today!”.
In alignment with the 2024 theme, first year medical students from the College of Medicine at Gulf Medical University, organized a community engagement activity on November 12, 2024, to raise awareness on organ donation and transplant. The students emphasized the life-saving contributions that organ donors make, and the critical role of transplantation in organ failure and need for unified healthcare management system.
As part of the event, the students highlighted ‘Hayat’, the national program for organ donation and transplant developed in United Arab Emirates to enhance organ donation efforts and align the international standards and its best practices. Hayat in the United Arab Emirates regulates the process of organ and tissue donation and transplantation, and advocates the goal of increasing the number of people who choose to donate and contribute to the community health.
The community engagement activity was coordinated by Dr. Sapna Shevade and Dr. Liju Susan Mathew, faculty from the Department of Biomedical Sciences (Anatomy) and Dr. Mahir Khalil Jallo, Consultant Physician at Thumbay University Hospital, Ajman. Medical students presented posters and educational games designed to inspire young adults and university staff to register as organ donors during the event.
About 94-97% of the participants were of the opinion that the event was interactive and met the purpose for which it was meant.
Dr. Mahir Khalil Jallo, mentioned, “Organ Donation awareness event is an essential area for students and patient education. Events like these will benefit raising awareness of organ donation and transplant practice in the region and encourage and inspire participants to register as organ donors.” “The global rise in chronic diseases and incidence of organ failure highlights an urgent need for increased community education and awareness of organ donation and transplantation; Gulf Medical University stands in solidarity with the Hayat, the national system to promote and encourage this practice,” reflected Prof. Manda Venkatramana, Vice Chancellor Academics, Dean, College of Medicine, and Chairman of the Community Engagement Committee of Gulf Medical University.
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