Governments have been urged to review the penalty for commercial organ donors by introducing stiffer penalty.
The Transplant Association of Nigeria (TAN) made the call at the World Organ Donation Day.
Its President, Dr Ebun Bamgboye, said Nigerainss should adhere to the ethics of the profession, adding that N100,000 fine on defaulters was too small.
Bamgboye said: “Members of TAN are bombarded by Nigerians driven by poverty, who want to sell their organs, especially kidneys.
“The government must rise up and nib this dangerous trend in the bud. Nigeria is a signatory to the Declaration of Istanbul on Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism.”
He noted that commercilaisation of human organs would increase the spate in wanton killings of human beings across the country, explaining that organ donation should not be exploited.
He said donor could be alive or dead. Organs that can be donated, he added, were kidneys, lungs, hearts, eyes, liver, pancreas, cornea, small intestines, skin tissues, bone tissues, heart valves, and veins, adding that here are two types of organ donation – live donation and cadaver or deceased donation.
He added: “Live donation is executed by a living healthy person. Organs that can be donated by a living person are kidneys and liver. This is because a donor can survive on one kidney, and the liver eventually grows back to its normal size. Cadaver donation, on the other hand, is executed using a person who is declared dead in terms of ultimate loss of respiration and consciousness. The idea behind World Organ Donation Day is to spread awareness about cadaver donation.”
Bamgboye said brain death is declared by doctors when there is an irreversible loss of consciousness and the absence of our brain stem reflexes. ‘’But, even after someone is declared brain dead, the organs can still be kept alive through artificial technology. Hence, if someone dies at home or any other place other than the hospital, then his/her organs cannot be donated. Vital organs can be donated only if death occurs in the hospital. In cases where the person has a cardiac death, organs that can be donated would include corneas, bones, ligaments, veins, heart valves, blood and platelets, and blood stem cells.
Bamgboye said organ failure cases, especially kidneys, are on the increase because of risk factors, such as diabetes, hypertension, which are neglected and not medically treated leading to kidney failure, among others.
He appealed to Nigerians to get medical solutions to address health concerns.
“Prevention is always better than cure. People should monitor their Bp, do routine medical checks, and take your drugs as directed. Do not do self-medication.
“Good policy drives organ donations and we as practitioners are sticking to what is ethically and professionally acceptable.”
Dr Mosun Faderin-Omotosho of Eye Bank for Restoring Sight in Nigeria based at LASUTH, said people would live if they donate their organs. “There are many organs, which can be donated after death. Donated organs can be life-changing for thousands of people in need, all across the country.
“World Organ Donation Day is to promote the need for organ donation around the country and the need to spread awareness of the same. The main objective lies in removing the taboo around organ donation. Cornea, for instance, can give sight to the blind; so cornea transplant, which is the most common organ transplanted in Nigeria, need to be donated more by people.”
“The most significant benefit of organ donation is the opportunity to give someone a second shot at life. It gives you the satisfaction of having saved a life. In the case of deceased donors, the grieving family members gain some comfort to know that their loved one’ death has not entirely been in vain and it has given someone a new lease of life. Organ donation is one of the most selfless acts our human life can afford us. If each of us were to donate, it would give hope to scores of human lives, some young some old. The current paucity in organ donation can be plugged if we were to pledge our organs after death,” said Dr Faderin.
She explained those are restricted from donating an organ are those are the sick, such as those with cancer, HIV or with bacteria in their bloodstream.