Ref: Kalau sesama Arab tidak dihargai, lantas bagaimana dengan pahlawan devisa dari NKRI?
http://news.kuwaittimes.net/2012/05/05/rights-citizenship-issues-deter-expats-from-donating-organs-you-keep-your-citizenship-ill-keep-my-organs/ Rights, citizenship issues deter expats from donating organs – ‘You keep your citizenship; I’ll keep my organs’ KUWAIT: “Why would I leave my organs to a country that will never recognize me as a full person that deserves full rights?” asked Syrian expatriate, Jassim. “I will never qualify for anything here as long as I live, and I’ll always be treated differently, and in return I’m expected to leave behind my organs?” he added. Sharing his sentiment, Lama, a Jordanian expatriate, said, “I don’t like the idea in general, but somehow it’s worse when you consider how we’re looked down by many people here. If I’m worth so much less, then my organs must be too, so I’ll keep them.” Organ donation is a sensitive subject in the Middle East, with many citing cultural and religious reasons for refusing to get organ donor cards. Medical professionals have worked hard to reassure hesitant individuals that organ donation is acceptable, and encouraged, within societies across the world. As a result, rates have slowly been rising, but there is still a strong resistance from a rather unexpected source: political reasons. Expatriates in Kuwait cannot take the nationality unless they marry a Kuwaiti, and that only applies to expatriate women. Many expats, especially those who were born here or have resided in Kuwait for an extended period of time, resent having to renew their residencies on a yearly or bi-yearly (depending on the laws at the time) basis. “We are not treated in the same way at all,” said Jassim, adding, “Everything here is on wasta (connections) and priority based on nationality. If I get sick and need a transplant, there’s no way I’ll get the organ I need here. I’d be at the end of the list, if on it at all.” Indian expat, Meghna, added “I do not believe for one second that all will be seen equally in terms of priority on waiting lists for organs.” Mustafa Al-Mousawi, the head of the Ministry of Health’s (MoH) Organ Procurement Unit, said of the issue, “I agree that expats feel neglected, and they have a point. In the past, priority was given to Kuwaitis in the waiting list, which meant expats had slim chance of receiving organs as there are always Kuwaitis waiting.” Whilst Al-Mousawi admitted that the situation was previously unfair, he insists that things have changed, “I changed the system last year, and pushed the council of the department to adopt a scoring system and include all expats in the system. It is working well.” He added, “The waiting list includes expats.” In order to further reassure the public, he outlined how the waiting list is organized. “I am in charge of organ allocation, which is transparent and fair. Each patient added to the waiting list collects points based on age, period of waiting, non-availability of living donors, previous transplant, medical condition (such as problems related to dialysis) and so on, and rises to the top of the waiting list for each blood group.” He added, “The waiting list is distributed to all doctors in the center so they know why whichever patient is selected when a donor is available. I do not allow wastas (connection-wielding).” Al-Mousawi noted that expats refusing to become an organ donor on the basis of dissatisfaction with their status in Kuwait is not the way to go. “I understand their bitterness, but we are asking for a human act, and when we meet them we explain that many patients are children or young adults who may die if they do not get an organ, so why bury organs of the deceased, which could save multiple lives?” He added, “Their organs could certainly end up going to a citizen of their country, if the patient is on the top of the list.” Despite Al-Mousawi’s reassurances, many are still not accustomed to the idea of donating their organs. “I would not consent to my organs being taken, nor those of my family. It is an awful thing to do to a body,” said 27-year-old Egyptian expatriate, Muna. “It is haram (sinful)” she added. Cultural issues have been a longstanding barrier in increasing the number of donors, so much so that professionals in the field can predict who’s most likely to consent. “Kuwaitis and Egyptians do not readily consent, with Egyptians being the most difficult to convince,” said Al-Mousawi. He added, “We have little difficulty convincing Europeans, Indians and Filipinos. There are also some incentives to donor families, such as repatriation of the body to their home country with a companion.” The rate of donation in Kuwait is gradually rising, but given the array of factors holding people back, progress may continue to be slow. “For every 100 referrals we get each year, around 50 are documented as brain dead. Of those 50, around a third of families give their consent for donation,” said Al-Mousawi. He added, “At the end of the day, donating your organs is an act of kindness that can save others from death or disease.” By Lisa Conrad , Staff Writer [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
