Charity aims to promote organ donation - Arab News - Rawabi Holding
Charity aims to promote organ donation - Arab News - Rawabi Holding
Charity aims to promote organ donation - Arab News - Rawabi Holding
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
<strong>Charity</strong> <strong>aims</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>promote</strong> <strong>organ</strong> <strong>donation</strong> - <strong>Arab</strong> <strong>News</strong>Tuesday 22 June 2010 | Tuesday, Rajab 10, 1431 | Last updated at 00:51LOG IN REGISTERHOME SAUDI ARABIA MIDDLE-EAST WORLD ECONOMY SPORTS LIFE & STYLE OPINION 35TH ANNIVERSARY SUPPLEMENT RSSLaw & YouTop 20 Businesswomen SupplementHOME / SAUDI ARABIA / CHARITY AIMS TO PROMOTE ORGAN DONATION<strong>Charity</strong> <strong>aims</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>promote</strong> <strong>organ</strong> <strong>donation</strong>MORE SAUDI ARABIA NEWSPower fails as temperatures soarSmoking banned at airportsHudaibiya is set <strong>to</strong> become a cultural dialogue centerPrivate car owners cash in on soaring demand forhouse driversMWL <strong>to</strong> hold Islamic conference in MakkahHospital staff axed due <strong>to</strong> lack of funds: Official40 arrested for selling illegal dish decodersSummer festivals kick off next weekNEWSLETTERYes, I would like <strong>to</strong> receive daily news updates from<strong>Arab</strong> <strong>News</strong> in my mailbox.Prominent businessman Abdul Aziz Alturki, second left, with Dr. Hannan Al-Ghamdi, second right, Thea Al-Ghamdi, 1st right,and Abdullah Al-Alami at the launch in Alkhobar of the Saudi Charitable Foundation for Promoting Organ Donation. (ANpho<strong>to</strong> by Boutros Ayad)By SIRAJ WAHAB | ARAB NEWSPublished: Apr 23, 2010 02:29 Updated: Apr 23, 2010 02:49ALKHOBAR: For a young accident victim or chronically ill hospitalpatient, cultural taboos against <strong>organ</strong> <strong>donation</strong>s can be akin <strong>to</strong> adeath sentence.Now a group of 36 highly motivated and concerned Saudis, led by prominentbusinessman Abdul Aziz Alturki, have set up a society <strong>to</strong> raise awareness about theissue in the Eastern Province. Donating <strong>organ</strong>s <strong>to</strong> sick or injured people is notconsidered <strong>to</strong> be an obligation by many in the <strong>Arab</strong> world and Saudi <strong>Arab</strong>ia inparticular.Yet hundreds, if not thousands, of Saudi men, women and children in need of atransplant are forced <strong>to</strong> endure pain and misery because of the lack of <strong>organ</strong>s.PRINT EMAILSHAREDELICIOUSDIGGFACEBOOKGOOGLECOMMENTSYAHOO! BUZZPost a commentRead all comments (1)“The formation of the Saudi Charitable Foundation for Promoting Organ Donation waslong overdue,” Alturki, the foundation’s chairman, said at a press conference onWednesday.“There are so many people who are in need of <strong>organ</strong>s. Some of them are forced <strong>to</strong>travel abroad and pay an astronomical sum <strong>to</strong> buy an <strong>organ</strong>. Not all of them canafford that kind of money. So we thought, why not create awareness in our societyand basically encourage people <strong>to</strong> donate their <strong>organ</strong>s.”Alturki said the foundation would seek the help of prominent religious scholars <strong>to</strong>spread positive messages about <strong>organ</strong> <strong>donation</strong>.“Sheikh Al-Sedhan urged people <strong>to</strong> save lives and donate their <strong>organ</strong>s <strong>to</strong> the needy inthe 1930s. He would mention these things in his speeches in the Kingdom’smosques. Then we have had rulings from the late Sheikh Bin-Baz. He encouragedJOBSMore...http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article46305.ece[6/22/2010 9:23:26 AM]
<strong>Charity</strong> <strong>aims</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>promote</strong> <strong>organ</strong> <strong>donation</strong> - <strong>Arab</strong> <strong>News</strong><strong>organ</strong> <strong>donation</strong>, <strong>to</strong>o.” He said the idea for such a charitable <strong>organ</strong>ization was firstfloated by King Fahd Specialist Hospital in Dammam.“The idea was then discussed with like-minded businessmen and doc<strong>to</strong>rs at my officeand it was decided <strong>to</strong> go ahead with its registration with the relevant governmentagency. We had the society’s first general assembly meeting last week, during thecourse of which we elected nine members <strong>to</strong> run the new <strong>organ</strong>ization’s board.”Dr. Hannan Al-Ghamdi, who was among those who attended the press conference onWednesday, was elected vice chairperson. “In Islam, saving life is more importantthan anything else,” she said, quoting part of the Holy Qur’an.“Through public outreach programs, we intend <strong>to</strong> educate the local communities aboutthe importance of <strong>organ</strong> <strong>donation</strong>s. The new <strong>organ</strong>ization will help <strong>organ</strong>ize ourefforts.”Economic researcher Abdullah Al-Alami, a member of the new society’s governingboard, admitted that religious scholars will have a very important role <strong>to</strong> play ineducating the public about the importance of donating <strong>organ</strong>s.“This will save so many lives and will bring so many people out of their misery,” hesaid.In a previous interview with <strong>Arab</strong> <strong>News</strong> on the issue, Cairo-based prominent Islamicscholar and well-known medical practitioner Dr. Mohammad Haytham Al-Khayat said<strong>organ</strong> <strong>donation</strong> was highly recommended in Islam.“It is a kind of ‘sadaqa jariya’, which is essentially an act of charity after a personpasses away,” he said, referring <strong>to</strong> a decision taken by leading Islamic scholars inKuwait some years ago that endorsed <strong>organ</strong> <strong>donation</strong> and <strong>organ</strong> transplants.Comments1 COMMENTS POST YOUR COMMENT READ ALLLATEST COMMENTSZakir Naik banned fromentering UKDawa work should not s<strong>to</strong>p. Dr.Zakir pls. produce 100 and1000's of Zakir Naik <strong>to</strong> replaceurselTazeen at Jun 22, 2010 03:5373 commentsJailed maid’s parents appealfor clemencyDefinitely this is not Qatal-eamador intentional murder. It isa death by fault if she is eveTazeen at Jun 22, 2010 03:5313 commentsIdeals of humanityI request the author <strong>to</strong> read theverse from the Holy Quran"Invite <strong>to</strong> the way of your Lordwithsalafi at Jun 22, 2010 03:5215 commentsIsrael prevents Germanminister from visiting GazaIsrael do not want people <strong>to</strong> seethe "GULAG" it has created.Israeli's should not be allowed<strong>to</strong>Shahid Shahid at Jun 22,2010 03:515 commentsED K. BHASKARANApr 24, 2010 18:17Report abuseIt is indeed a great help <strong>to</strong> the society who are badly in need of transplanting an<strong>organ</strong>. Many finds difficulty even <strong>to</strong> locate an <strong>organ</strong> donor abroad at time of urgency.A general awareness program among the society would help this program and makeit a great success, especially <strong>to</strong> this region which I consider as my second home.1 COMMENTS READ ALLPOST YOUR COMMENTNAME:requiredEMAIL:required (email will never be displayed)COMMENTSECURITY CHECKPlease enter the following characters in the box provided (case sensitive). Thishelps us prevent au<strong>to</strong>mated programs from creating accounts and sending spam.All comments are subject <strong>to</strong> approvalTerms and conditionsJobs in Riyadhhttp://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article46305.ece[6/22/2010 9:23:26 AM]