Organ transplant patients, parents and hospital staff from Red Cross and Groote Schuur hospitals gathered for the handover of the artwork and Orgamites programme launch at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital.
Image: Image supplied
The provincial Department of Health and Wellness launched the Orgamites programme last week to mark World Kidney Day on Thursday March 13.
The Orgamites Mighty Education Programme, in partnership with the Canadian Blood Service, was unveiled at Groote Schuur Hospital and the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital.
Artwork done by a group of Canadian school pupils for the “Works of Heart” competition was handed over during a visit to the children’s hospital on Tuesday March 11.
Canadian children have been benefitting from the Orgamites programme since 2021. As part of the launch in South Africa, the initiative will be piloted at four schools in Cape Town.
The Orgamites programme, which is designed specifically for children between the ages of 5 and 11, uses educational videos, resources, tools, toys and technology to inspire and equip pupils, teachers, and families to discuss organ donation and to take better care of their bodies and each other.
At the launch at Groote Schuur, chief education specialist for foundation phase for the provincial education department, Almaret Du Toit said: “At its core, the Orgamites Programme is about more than just advocacy for organ donation; it is also about empowering young minds to make informed, compassionate, and responsible decisions that can transform their lives and the lives of others.”
Ms Du Toit says the Orgamites mission is to make the programme engaging and child-friendly and encourages teachers and children to learn about and discuss organ donation from an early age.
“By using animated characters representing organs vital for donation, such as the heart, liver, and kidneys, children learn both the importance of taking care of their own bodies and the life-saving potential of organ donation.”
Critical care specialist and transplant surgeon at Groote Schuur, Dr David Thomson, who is part of this initiative, believes that early education about organ donation can improve understanding of organ donation in communities. “It can teach children not just about their own health, but also about compassion, selflessness, and the importance of caring for others.”
Head of the paediatric renal and solid organ transplant unit at the children’s hospital, Professor Mignon McCulloch believes that the programme will spark much-needed conversations around organ donation in South Africa. “We’ve seen first-hand how the gift of an organ can give a child a second chance at life, many children who find themselves in our hospitals would never survive without organ donation.”
Professor McCulloch says through the Orgamites programme, they hope to teach children not only the importance of organ donation but also the value of looking after their organs and living healthy lives.
To learn more about the Orgamites programme visit, https://orgamites.co.za<https://orgamites.co.za/
If you are interested in being an organ donor, visit https://odf.org.za or call 0800 22 66 11.
You can also visit the South African Bone Marrow Registry on www.sabmr.co.za
The Department of Health and Wellness advises that all decisions surrounding organ donations must be discussed with your family. Ensure they understand your wish to donate your organs or tissue after your passing. They will always be asked for permission. Your family will not incur any medical costs related to the donation, and there is no financial burden for your loved ones.
Professor Mignon McCulloch, head of the paediatric renal and solid organ transplant unit at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, receives an artwork from “The Mighty Heart”orgamite as part of the Orgamites launch.
Image: Image supplied