In Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are 30 dialysis centers where 2,600 patients receive dialysis.
In the entire country, 450 people have received a kidney transplant so far, and in the Federation of BiH, 160 of them are currently waiting for this organ to be transplanted.
This is what prof. Ph.D. Halima Resić, nephrologist and president of the Donor Network of Bosnia and Herzegovina, stating that the number of those waiting for an organ transplant is certainly higher, but that due to the long wait for transplants, many patients do not register on the list.
– The biggest problem of transplant medicine in FBiH is that we do not have enough cadaveric transplants (transplantation of organs from a deceased donor). Last year, we had 25 transplants from living donors, and only one from a cadaver. Transplant coordinators in clinical centers do not detect donors who have experienced brain death in time, and there are also cases where the families of the deceased do not give their consent for organ donation. That is why, I would say, the promotion of organ donation, which the Donor Network does in cooperation with the Association of Dialysis and Transplant Patients of FBiH, with the support of the Federal Ministry of Health, in health institutions, is important. I think it is crucial that healthcare workers educate themselves and spread the idea of donation, the humanity and nobility of organ donation, because if cadaveric transplantation does not take off, I am afraid that transplant medicine in FBiH does not have a bright future. Now, according to statistics, we are at a very low level compared to countries in the region and beyond, and we have potential donors – Resić points out on the occasion of World Kidney Day on March 14.
He notes that quality campaigns about the importance of donation are only now being carried out, and the reason, he adds, is that until now they have not had the support of competent institutions.
– The Donor Network and the Association did everything on a voluntary basis, and now we have the support of the Federal Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This month, we will organize a conference called “Ethical and religious aspects of organ donation” with only one reason to increase the number of people donating organs – stresses Resić.
This year’s global campaign “Kidney Health for All – Caring for People, Protecting the Planet”, opens for the first time the important topic of the impact of dialysis as a kidney function replacement therapy on the environment.
According to Resić, the goal is to point out the importance of preventing kidney diseases, but also to show how much dialysis harms the Planet.
– Long-term dialysis causes complications in all organs, but also consumes a lot of water and energy, emits greenhouse gases, and all of this leads to climate change. That is why it is important to work on preventing kidney diseases and increasing transplants – says Resić.
Triggers for kidney disease are: diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, older age, obesity, food rich in salt, certain medications, it says. Factor.
– Kidney diseases are silent killers, because in most cases they do not cause symptoms until the disease develops. That is why maximum prevention is crucial in order to reduce the number of people on dialysis. A healthy diet and lifestyle are crucial in the onset of the disease, as well as regular check-ups in order to detect changes in time. I keep pointing that out, because in the conversation with our nephrologists, I found out that patients come late for examinations – concluded Resić.
