As many as 1,377 tissue transplants, including 880 operations to transplant bones, were performed in Moldova in 2011-2017. Of these, 121 were done in 2017. Last year, there were also performed 31 organ transplants, 36 cornea transplants and 20 skin transplants. According to specialists, a donor can save eight lives by donating organs and 100 lives by donating tissue. The information was presented in the opening of a conference centering on the European Day for Organ Donation and Transplantation entitled “Hope for Life” that was held in Chisinau on October 13, IPN reports.
Attending the event, Minister of Health, Labor and Social Protection Silvia Radu said the history of transplant in Moldova started in 1960s, when the first cortical bone transplant was performed. In 1982, there was done the first rental transplant. A long period followed without an appropriate legal framework and in the absence of a competent institution. Only in 2008, there was adopted the law on human organ, tissue and cell transplantation and the Transplant Agency was created later. “We have yet to take many steps to create a modern system. I hope the progress in this field will continue at a higher pace,” noted the minister.
MP Vladimir Hotineanu, who is a surgeon by profession, said transplantology is a complex area that faces different problems. Compared with several years ago, the people now know what brain death and transplant mean and what the benefits of transplantation are. Forces should be now combined to have more such operations as the waiting lists are long and the death rate among people from the waiting lists exceeds 60%.
Igor Codreanu, director of the Transplant Agency, said a number of results were achieved, but a lot is yet to be done. There is no transplantation without a donator and the population should be informed about this. A poll conducted by the Agency shows over 64% of those surveyed accept the donation of organs, while almost 90% want to know more about transplantation.
The conference held on the European Day for Organ Donation and Transplantation will continue with a March for Life from the National Clinical Hospital up to the square situated at 6-8 Academiei St, where a monument dedicated to donors and a donors alley will be inaugurated. The program will end with an open-air concert on the pedestrian street Eugen Doga and the awarding of the winners of the drawing contest intended for secondary school/lyceum students entitled “Organ Donation and Transplantation - Hope for Life”.
The events dedicated to the European Day for Organ Donation and Transplantation are organized with the assistance of the Council of Europe. These are aimed at raising awareness of donation and at rendering homage to all donors and their families.