DAMMAM – Organ transplantation experts and surgeons from around the world will arrive in the Eastern Province city of Dammam on Wednesday to share their experience in the field.
The first-ever Gulf Organ Donor Management Conference that will take place at the Sheraton Hotel here will mark the anniversary of the founding of Eithar, a non-profit organization promoting organ donation in the Kingdom.

Eithar is organizing the conference with the cooperation of the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation, the University of Dammam and the Dammam Medical Complex. Addressing a press conference, Eithar founder Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Turki said his organization’s mission is based on the teaching of the Holy Qur’an, “If anyone saves a life, it shall be as though he has saved the lives of all mankind.” (Qur’an, 5:32).

He said the aim of the current conference was to share experience and knowledge, and promote standards of patient care to reach international levels. Topics will cover wide range of issues related to brain death management, multi-organ donor issues and preservation of harvested organs.

“This will be the first international conference co-sponsored by Eithar, and it will help the organization move towards building stronger links with its key stakeholders: organ donors, the medical profession and society at large. We plan to organize a similar event every two years to stay abreast of the latest developments in the field,” Al-Turki said.
The conference will provide local surgeons with the opportunity to share their experience with global experts. Hospital staff working in intensive care units will be trained on how to professionally approach relatives of the deceased regarding organ donation.

The vice president of Eithar, Dr. Hanan Al-Ghamdi, said, “It is of great importance to facilitate communication channels and cooperation between the emergency departments of various hospitals and the organ transplant centers to cut down the amount of time lost during the transplantation process.”

Speed and efficiency are crucial because the time before a dead patient’s organ loses its vitality is very short, he added.

“Unfortunately, we have a tragic shortage of donors in the Kingdom. One registered organ donor can save up to nine different lives. At Eithar, we even encourage healthy and robust individuals to donate a kidney or a part of their liver to those in need,” said Al-Ghamdi. — SG