Desperate Times: Blood O Kidney Patients Face 12-15 Years on the Waiting List

Yesterday, Stella De Kock, Managing Director of Transplant Education for Living Legacies (TELL), voiced concern about the alarming plight faced by kidney patients in South Africa as they endure decades or more of waiting for life-saving organs.

In an interview with The Southern Live, De Kock revealed that, individuals with blood group O face a nightmarish reality, enduring a 12-15 year wait on the organ transplant list.

“There are more than 2,300 patients on the waiting list for kidneys alone, and the waiting period for a patient on the O blood group list is 12-15 years,” she said.

Despite being one of the 12 African countries performing renal transplantation, South Africa, with 15% of its population affected by kidney disease, faces a stark reality with over 4700 individuals, both adults and children, eagerly awaiting life-saving organs.

According to TELL, in the year 2021, South Africa conducted 229 organ transplants—a mere fraction of what is needed. Notably, there persists a scarcity of paediatric kidney transplants, underlining the growing gap between supply and demand.

“The shortage of donors results in patients dying when they shouldn’t. It means fewer state patients being offered dialysis and more patients dying from end-stage renal disease,” De Kock said.

Walt Esterhuysen (Pictured) Before and after Transplant

TELL, an organization devoted to end the waiting list by providing transplant education to both the general public and medical sectors, actively addresses this crisis through diverse partnerships and collaborations.

These include affiliations with the Southern African Transplant Society, South African Transplant Sports Association, and Rare Diseases South Africa.

Innovative projects like “The Zane Project,” featuring an educational toy mascot advocating for organ donation, highlight the importance of sharing the space and embracing differences.

Zane the Mascot advocating for organ donation

In February 2022, TELL joined forces with Surgeons for Little Lives to present educational Zane toys to children in the Paediatric Burns unit at Chris Hani Baragwaneth Academic Hospital. This partnership extends beyond education, offering thoughtful gifts to children facing challenging medical journeys.

Last year, TELL received an invitation to the annual Christmas party at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital. Zane, the mascot, made a special visit, bringing joy and cheer to the pediatric patients, highlighting the importance of creating positive moments for children undergoing medical treatment.

Zane the mascot during one of his hospital visits

In an effort to educate the public, TELL works with Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, extending their reach into medical institutions and emphasizing the importance of timely referrals for potential donors.

Additionally, during National Kidney Awareness Week, TELL collaborated with Path care Vermaak to offer free screenings for blood pressure and glucose. These initiatives contribute to the on-going efforts to raise awareness about kidney health and showcase TELL’s dedication to educating the public and promoting kidney health in South Africa.

De Kock also said, in the realm of treating kidney disease, public-sector access to dialysis is restricted to individuals deemed eligible for kidney transplants.

“Private-sector dialysis services entail a fee of R2000 per session, and since many patients necessitate three sessions weekly, the financial burden is substantial,” she said.

Nevertheless, not all patients with End Stage Renal Failure meet the criteria for transplants or dialysis. Within the state sector, dialysis allocation is carefully regulated, incurring an annual cost of around R280,000, while transplants present a more economically viable option.

According to De Kock , currently 8500 patients are receiving dialysis treatment in the public and private sectors although access to dialysis in the public sector is rationed.

De Kock also highlighted challenges in kidney transplants, particularly concerning access and gender disparities, where societal biases make women more likely to donate than receive them.

While kidney transplants significantly enhance recipients’ quality of life by eliminating the need for dialysis and restoring normal functioning, persistent challenges include the limited 10-year lifespan of transplanted kidneys and the requirement for recipients to take potentially harmful immunosuppressant medications.

De Kock who was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Failure in 2011 at the age of 35 and has been on hemodialysis since, urged the nation to unite in addressing this issue.

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Stella De Kock pictured during hemodialysis

“As South Africa grapples with a dire shortage of kidney donors and a growing number of patients in need, we urge the nation to unite in addressing this pressing health crisis and save countless lives through the gift of organ donation.” added De Kock.

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(Pictured)Tlotlego Mabale before and after a transplant

However, despite efforts to increase awareness about the importance of organ donation, the acceptance of the practice remains low within the African community.

This reluctance is rooted in their belief in life after death, leading them to advocate for burying the body intact, with all its organs.

Noncedo Ndlwana, who recently donated her kidney to her cousin suffering from a prolonged illness, encourages the public to contemplate organ donation, emphasizing its life-saving potential.

“If I knew earlier that I could be a match, I would have offered my kidney sooner. But I am very happy that my cousin is recovering now, and I can confidently say I have saved my brother’s life.” Ndlwana said.

Merry Christmas!!!