Beirut, Islamic-Christian leaders at forefront of campaign in favor of organ donation
Christian, Muslim and Druze leaders have signed the "donor card". It is (also) a cultural battle, against the widespread belief among the faithful that organ donation is against the faith. Religious leaders encourage a "noble gesture" and "humanitarian", which must be "voluntary, unselfish, free".
Beirut (AsiaNews / Olj) - To raise awareness on the subject, a group of Lebanese religious leaders - representing different communities - has signed the so-called "donor card", as part of a project that aims to remove prejudices and obstacles to organ donation.
This recent initiative is not just symbolic, but intends to change a tradition that has very deep roots in the culture and in the local society. In fact, a large part of public opinion is convinced that this gesture of altruism is actually contrary to the precepts of faith. The National Committee for Organ donation and transplantation of organs and tissues (Nord Liban) has long been battling this prejudice.
The signing of the donor's card was held in the presence of Health Minister Waël Bou Faour, Fr. Edgard Haïby, general secretary of the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of health services (Apecl) and representative of the Maronite Patriarch, Shiite and Sunni Muslim figures. All those present signed the document, with the aim of raising awareness and, in particular, among their own community of origin.
In addition to the religious leaders, the ceremony was also attended by Lebanese personalities from the world of entertainment, culture and the arts. Among these actors Nada Abou Farhat, Bernadette Hodeib and Ziadé Charbel, who in the past had lent their face to targeted campaigns for organ donation, under the hashtag #sayitnow (say it now). An initiative which encouraged donors to make the participants familiar with their choice.
In their interventions, the Christian, Muslim and Druze religious leaders pointed out that none of these faiths is opposed to donation and transplantation. Rather, they encourage the act provided it is "voluntary, nonprofit, free" and "not subject to emotional, psychological or material coercion ".
The signatories underlined the value of a "noble" and "humanitarian" gesture, which is one of the highest "forms of charity" in the world. Only note: the death of the person whose organs are harvested must be determined by a physician, according to an established protocol.
Farida Younan, Nod Liban national coordinator, stressed the obstacles that hinder the donation and called for government intervention to support the national program and allocate new funds. Speaking to L'Orient-Le Jour (Loj) Nod Liban vice-president Antoine Stéphan, adds that "this initiative is proof that religions are not opposed to organ donation", an "unclear factor" for many faithful. "Now the goal - he concludes - is to get this message across to the entire population" because there are 430 patients in the country waiting for an organ to survive.
The Middle Eastern and Asian populations - generally - are reluctant to donate blood, organs or of their bodies for scientific research or to save lives. In recent years, however, a greater awareness has developed, thanks to the work of leading figures in society. Among Catholics emerges the figure of the late Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan, archbishop of long-Seoul (South Korea) who was a pioneer in the field.
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