Video: How more than 30,000 UAE residents pledged to donate organs

Dubai: More than 30,000 UAE residents have pledged to donate organs after death to give a new lease of life to recipients, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has revealed. The Hayat Organ Donation Programme under the ministry has so far enrolled 30,388 people to date, Dr Amin Hussain Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for the Health Regulation Sector, said in Dubai.

He revealed the figure during his keynote speech at a new drive to increase enrolment to the programme by targeting blood donors.

For this, the ministry launched a new collaborative campaign between the Hayat Organ Donation Programme and blood banks in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah.

Aimed at harmonising organ and blood donation efforts, the initiative was announced at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences in Dubai.

The campaign seeks to increase organ donation rates by integrating two areas of healthcare—organ and blood donation. It aims to cultivate a culture of community giving, improve quality of life indicators, and establish the UAE as a global leader in organ donation and transplantation.

Dr Al Amiri said the ongoing success of Hayat is a result of continuous efforts and collaboration between the federal, local, health, and academic sectors. “This innovative campaign is set to strengthen the UAE’s leadership in blood donation and self-sufficiency by building on the success of the Hayat organ donation programme, which has continually evolved and excelled,” he added.

Dr Ali Abdulkarim Al Obaidli, Chairman of the National Committee for Organ Transplantation, Hayat is part of the UAE’s ongoing efforts to set a global standard and raise awareness about the importance of organ donation as a noble humanitarian act.

The event featured a presentation showcasing the achievements of blood banks in the UAE, along with inspiring personal stories from the families of donors and transplant recipients. It also included a ceremony honouring e-blood banks participating in the initiative, acknowledging their significant health and humanitarian contributions.