NKTI launches mobile app to help patients who need organ donors

The National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) has launched a mobile application that aims to help individuals who need organ donors.

According to Mark Salazar’s “24 Oras” report on Friday, the NKTI launched the “IHOPE app” which is under the human organ preservation effort (HOPE) of the institute.

“This is the IHOPE app, you can download the application sa Google Play at soon sa platform ng IOS. Ang purpose ng app na ito ay, una, for organ donor registry,” NKTI HOPE head Dr. Arlene Duque said.

The IHOPE app will also be available for other organ donations.

They can register as organ donors and will be given a digital donor card, declaring that they are ready to donate organs in case of death.

Healthcare professionals can also use the app to refer a deceased person or deceased donor.

“Pangalawa, dito rin natin i-improve ang processes ng human organ preservation effort kung saan hindi mo kailangan pumunta sa aming opisina para ma-reach ang HOPE kasi mayroon ka rin puwedeng i-download dito na requirements about transplantation requirements kung paano po ba magpa-enlist kung ikaw ay walang donor,” Duque said.

(We also improve the processes of human organ preservation effort, where you do not need to go to our office to reach HOPE because you can also download here requirements about transplantation requirements and how to enlist if you do not have a donor.)

Meanwhile, some dialysis patients have been waiting for several years for kidney donors.

“Kumbaga hindi ko pa naeenjoy yung buhay ko eh, marami pang pwedeng gawin na hindi na po natuloy. Pero kung halimbawa bibigyan ako ng pagkakataon na mabigyan makapagbagong buhay siguro hindi ko po sasayangin yun,” said 23-year-old dialysis patient Vicente Gualvez II, who has been waiting for five years for a kidney donor.

(It seems that I haven't enjoyed my life yet, there are many other things that can be done that I haven't continued. But if, for example, I am given the opportunity to be given a new life, maybe I won't waste it.)

In his case, it costs him P6,200 per dialysis session which is done three times a week. His expenses cost up to P74,700 per month.

Another dialysis patient Maria Cristina De La Cruz, who underwent almost two decades of dialysis, said only a successful kidney transplant will end their huge expenses to treat their illness.

“Hanggang kaya ng kidneys ko, kasi ngayon 3% na lang siya pagdumating po siya [donor] thank you po, pero pag hindi, I will make the best or most kung ano na lang po yung meron,” De La Cruz said.

(As far as my kidneys can go, because now it is only 3% when he the donor comes thank you, but if not, I will make the best or most of what I have.)

At least 112 patients were enlisted for kidney donorship in NKTI, while only nine patients are the fortunate ones to get donors this year.

“Kung ibangga mo ‘yun sa total number ng taong may organ failure sa kidney, napakababa talaga so ‘yung organ donors talaga ang problema, both living and the deceased,” Duque said.

(If you hit that with the total number of people with organ failure in the kidney, the organ donors are really very low, both living and the deceased.)

“Nasa humigit kumulang 35,000 maaring under pa ang statistics na sinasabi ko sa kumpara sa actual na transplantation na ginagawa natin dito sa NKTI na less than 300 a year,” she said.

(Around 35,000, the statistics I’m saying may be even lower compared to the actual transplantation we do here at NKTI which is less than 300 a year.)

The HOPE project chief also admitted that there are still several people selling their kidneys.

“Of course, hindi mo ‘yan mahihinto dahil usapan naman ‘yan between the recipient and the donor. Pero gusto kong malaman niyo na ang ganitong gawain ay mayroong batas na ipinagbabawal siya,” said Duque.

(Of course, you can't stop that because it's an agreement between the recipient and the donor. But I want you to know that these activities are prohibited by law.) -- Richa Noriega/BAP, GMA News