Mission to raise awareness

The promotional class, known as Market263,included more than 20 students aiming to clear up misconceptions relating to organ donation by staging a week-long campaign filled with insightful activities.

The initiative included an information session about organ donation, a movie screening of John Q, a debate among the student body and an exhibition in which the students showcased their efforts and research. They even staged a walkathon entitled ‘Walk and Save a Life’ at the Bahrain Fort.

The pupils were assigned the task by Dr Lamya Al Arrayed, assistant professor of marketing in the department of management and marketing at the College of Business Administration.

Dr Al Arrayed said: “Every semester I stage a marketing exhibition. Four classes are given assignments to work on and then they showcase it at an exhibition in the college’s hallway.

“After the exhibition, the students offer their work for free to the Bahrain Kidney Patients Friendship Society, their bid to serve society. They designed a new logo for them along with advertising and promotional material. I am really proud of them.”

The lecture was hosted by Dr Sumaya Al Ghareeb, the chairperson of Nephrology and Transplant Department at Salmaniya Medical Complex and the Ministry of Health.

During her presentation, she explained that organ shortage is due to the fear, ignorance or misunderstanding of individuals and their families. Some believe that their organs will be removed before they are dead. Others find it a moral or religious issue fearing that they will not be able to have a regular funeral service and it goes against their religion. They also believe that they came into this world with their organs and are not leaving without them. Some think that only famous people get transplants and it’s too costly to carry out the procedures.

In terms of religion, Dr Al Ghareeb stressed that saving a life overrides all objections and that no religion is against organ donation. What hold people back are their cultural reservations.

Dr Al Ghareeb said: “The Quran states that if by not transplanting an organ or tissue, the person will die, then it is permissible to donate. It is allowed for an emergency to save life.”

She also explained that Muftis, religious officials appointed by the government to deal with Islamic matters, have certified that Islam has no objection towards organ donation.

After the lecture, students were more than happy to promote organ donation, such as Market263 student Alyaa Mohamed.

Alyaa, 21, from Sanabis, was part of the public relations team promoting the cause. She said: “It really did start as just a project with the main objective of getting good grades. But, as time passed, it became an actual cause for all of us. It’s not just a project that we will submit and be done with. It’s something that I, personally, want to continue.

“Dr Al Ghareeb brought up an idea about forming a group to raise awareness about organ donation in Bahrain and I am really interested in joining that group. I feel like there are a lot of things we can do when it comes to this subject.

“The way I see it is we are always donating blood and money but when it comes to our organs it’s a bit more difficult to grasp. If people were to discuss it then it could be a way forward.”

Her classmate from the direct marketing team, Nada Ebrahim, 21, from Saar, added: “Organ donation is not scary. It’s about saving lives. I am going to be an organ donor. I’m signing the consent form now so that my relatives will know when my time comes that I approved this and want this. It’s all about being informed.”

Information collected by the class which includes names and ages of those willing to take part in donations will be given to the Bahrain Kidney Patients Friendship Society to be added to its database.