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6.3m Chinese Register As Human Organ Donors
When a war veteran, Liu Shanwen, passed away at the age of 95 three years ago, his family honoured his final wish by donating his body for medical research.
“My comrades-in-arms have departed, and now life, both in spirit and substance, abounds with riches.
“Living is the utmost joy, and when I depart this world, I wish to give all that I can back to society,’’ said Liu in explaining his choice.
Liu’s daughter Liu Yanqun succumbed to illness more recently.
Her most profound desire before departing this world was to follow in her father’s footsteps by donating her body for the advancement of medical science.
Influenced by the commitment of their older generation, three generations of the Liu family have registered for the noble cause of human organ donation.
Currently, more than 6.3 million individuals have embraced the selfless act of registering as human organ donors, as reported by the China Organ Donation Administrative Centre.
On various online social platforms, one can easily find numerous people proudly displaying their voluntary registration cards for organ donation.
Among them is Yuanyuan (pseudonym), a spirited young woman with short hair, expressive eyes, and a slender frame.
She has valiantly battled cancer for over two years and is determined to leave a gift of life when she passes away.
“As for the question of becoming a handful of ashes or a seed of hope after passing, I will choose to be the latter,’’ she said.
She made the decision to become a volunteer human organ donor, viewing it as a choice in favour of life itself.
“Donating the body can save a lot of trouble,’’ said Li Jing, who worked in Beijing.
However, beneath this casual statement lies significant personal pressure.
Li’s parents struggled to comprehend her choice and vehemently opposed it.
In the eyes of the older generation, death remained a highly sensitive and taboo topic.
For them, their daughter’s decision to sign an organ donation agreement was a matter they cannot wholeheartedly accept.
“Body organ donation requires the consent of immediate family members.
“Even if someone expresses the desire to donate his or her body, as long as he or she has a child who disagrees, the donation cannot proceed,’’ said Zhu Gaochun.
Gaochum is a director of the medical school’s anatomy teaching and research department at Nanchang University.
“This perspective is deeply rooted in the Chinese tradition of preserving the body intact, even as cremation gradually replaces burial.
“The notion of preserving the body, including its hair and skin, remains a fundamental concept for many,’’ Zhu said.
Zhang Zhihuang, deputy director of the humanitarian assistance service centre of the Red Cross Society of China Jiangxi Branch, highlighted that the body organ donation demographic primarily consists of young and middle-aged people.
He said that 92 per cent of registered donors fell between the ages of 18 and 45.
“A significant factor preventing elderly people from donating is their children’s disagreement.
“They fear being seen as unfilial, and traditional beliefs continue to pose the most substantial barrier to body donation,’’ Zhang said.
More than 47,000 volunteers have selflessly donated their body parts so far this year, illuminating the path of medical research with the gift of life.
“Body donation is vital for medical research, and it’s hard to imagine how a medical student can be a good doctor without actually dissecting a human body,’’ Zhu said
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
