Organ donation: Awareness still low in Sarawak, says expert
Chieng (left) officiates at the Charity Run and 2025 Organ Donation Awareness Campaign in Sibu. Looking on are (from second left) Dr Yet, Dr Terence and Dr Nanthakumar.
SIBU (April 27): The awareness level of organ donation in Sarawak remains low due to cultural misconceptions, logistical challenges and lack of public understanding about this matter.
According to Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) Organ Procurement Unit head Dr Lydia Yet, all organ donations go through strict screening processes and are based on medical compatibility.
'Many people think we simply take organs from someone and give them to someone else.
'In Malaysia, organ procurement is only done from donors who have been declared brain dead. You cannot just come to a hospital and say: 'I want to donate my organ to a specific person for money', which is not allowed,' she said this during the 'Charity Run and 2025 Organ Donation Awareness Campaign' carried out by the Department of Anaesthesiology of Sibu Hospital (TOP Team), at Taman Tasik Permai here yesterday.
Adding on, Dr Yet encouraged those wishing to pledge as organ donors to do so via the MySejahtera app.
'Most importantly, please inform your family members about your decision.
'When someone passes away and the loved ones are unaware of that person's wishes, it creates confusion and guilt, which often leads to rejection,' she said.
Dr Yet also pointed out that logistical difficulties posed another challenge, as organs retrieved in Sarawak must be transported to Peninsular Malaysia for transplantation.
'At present, kidney and liver transplants are done at Selayang Hospital and Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
'For now, heart and lung transplants, which require quicker transfers, cannot be conducted from Sarawak due to time constraints.
'At this time, we are only able to facilitate kidney and liver donations.
'Compatibility tests also have to be done in labs in Peninsular Malaysia, which adds complexity.'
Dr Yet also acknowledged the support of commercial airlines in enabling the transport of organs.
'Previously, we faced difficulties transporting organs on flights due to security protocols, but after discussions with AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, and Kuching Airport, this issue has largely been resolved.'
Dr Yet also expressed concern about traditional beliefs, where some families believed that eye donors 'would not be able to see in the afterlife'.
'We need to change this mindset; when we die, our body returns to the earth. Our organs can give others a chance at life,' she said.
Dr Yet added that Sarawak had recorded organ donation cases over the past decade.
'Before the recent donation case in Miri, the last successful organ donation in Sarawak was in 2015.
'In 2022, there was one case in Sibu, and last year, we had two cases at Sarawak General Hospital.'
Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng officiated at the programme yesterday, where among those attending were Sibu Hospital director Dr Nanthakumar Thirunavukarasu and its head of anaesthesiology and intensive care, Dr Terence Siew. awareness lead organ donation
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