THE INCIDENCE OF KIDNEY disease in Barbados is a growing and worrisome one with the number of people on dialysis as well as those awaiting a transplant on an upward spiral. How we deal with curtailing and overcoming the challenges surrounding this disease will be rooted in education, advocacy and compassion.
Last week the issue took the spotlight when two medical practitioners – head of surgery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Margaret O’Shea and transplant surgeon in the United States, Barbados-born Dr Velma Scantlebury – spoke of the need for donor legislation in Barbados.
The arguments advanced are reasonable and sound, but for organ donation to become popular in Barbados, there will be need for greater public discussion. The ethical and medical issues must be ventilated.
Both recipients and donors in Barbados need to speak publicly on the issue, since a transplant is better than being on the dialysis machine undergoing treatment which can be painful, debilitating and costly.
There is a definite need to start sensitizing the public about the pros and cons of organ donation, including the joy of extending someone’s life without necessarily risking yours.
Given issues related to obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure, we are likely to have a growing incidence of kidney problems. The number of people in Barbados with such problems may not be accurately known, hence the importance of testing to avoid end-stage renal disease which requires either dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Organ donation advocates must be cautious and clear in their attempts to make the families of brain-dead patients consent to the posthumous donation of their organs.
It is not something with which we are accustomed and all the benefits of such an undertaking must be highlighted.
It is going to be important for not only the medical and legal professionals to be involved, but churches and NGOs – such as the Barbados Kidney Association – must also be on board to encourage this advancement.
The evidence suggests that the issue of organ donation was a painful and dangerous procedure before the advances in modern sciences. Yet for many the mystery of it all still remains as does some scepticism.
As we move to encourage organ donation, we must ensure any such move is purely altruistic, avoiding compensation and effectively blocking any avenue for desperate potential donors to sell their organs.
We need enhanced public awareness campaigns to educate people on risk factors, prevention tips and benefits. Yes, Barbados needs a donor bank to facilitate a quick turnaround in kidney transplants. We simply must save and prolong lives.
