NIZWA: The Omani Center for the Regulation of Organ and Human Tissue Donation and Transplantation (OROHTDT), under the Ministry of Health, has made significant progress in organ donation efforts across the country. Since 2023, the centre has obtained consent from 14 families of brain-dead patients for organ donation, resulting in the transplant of 36 vital organs, including 26 kidneys, seven livers and three hearts, offering a renewed chance at life for many patients.
Three organ donors from brain-dead cases were registered this year. They donated six kidneys, two livers, and two hearts. As a single donor can save multiple lives and provide patients with a new opportunity to live.
OROHTDT's Sami bin Mohammed al Numani said, "Promoting a culture of organ donation has become one of the most important solutions for patients awaiting life-saving transplants, particularly those suffering from heart and lung diseases. Donations from brain-dead patients remain the primary source for such organs." Organ donation has become a source of new beginnings for many patients, restoring hope and bringing joy to families who have spent years waiting for treatment and recovery. Ahmed al Jahafi, one of the people who received a heart transplant after a long wait, said: "No matter what I say, I will never be able to fully thank the donor’s family. I pray for mercy upon the donor and thank the family for this great humanitarian decision. After Allah, they were the reason I was given a second chance at life, and that is something I will never forget for the rest of my life.
"Honestly, the waiting period was difficult. I would get tired from slight exertion, and even the simplest things in my day required a lot of effort. After I was informed that there was a heart donor for me, I felt a mixture of joy and fear. I knew that this was an opportunity that could change my life, and indeed it did change. After the operation, my feelings were different. The first thing that made me happy was that I could walk and breathe normally. I felt that I had come back to life. Today I am the first person to get a heart transplant in Oman, and my presence here is the greatest proof that organ donation changes people’s lives. One decision from you can be the reason for saving a person’s life. I advise everyone who is thinking about this to know the impact of this decision, because it really makes a big difference.”
One of the main reasons some families hesitate to consent to organ donation is a lack of understanding of brain death, as many people mistakenly confuse it with a coma. “Brain death is real and medically confirmed death; it is not a coma as many people believe,” Al Numani said.
Social misconceptions continue to influence some families' decisions, including fears that organ donation may disfigure the body, delay burial procedures, or lead to negative societal perceptions.
Al Numani said over 30,000 individuals have registered to donate organs after death through the Shifa application, emphasising the importance of encouraging people to officially document their wishes and contribute to spreading a culture of giving within society.
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