JOHANNESBURG, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- South African health department on Wednesday appealed to citizens for overcoming religious and cultural influences to treat organ donations correctly, with around 2,780 people waiting for organ donations and transplants, including kidneys, livers, hearts and lungs at present.
In honor of the global campaign to raise awareness about organ donations and transplantations, Foster Mohale, the spokesperson for the health department, warned that the waiting list becomes longer and more people including children are dying while waiting for transplantations.
Religious and cultural influences are preventing many citizens from donating their organs that are much needed, Mohale told Xinhua.
This year's organ donation campaign is themed "A life after mine" to encourage South Africans to become lifesavers through organ donations. The health department has approved a number of organ transplants and donations in recent years, Mohale said.
To raise and sustain awareness, the department has partnered with stakeholders including the Organ Donation Foundation and civil society organizations. ■