In that article I highlighted some reasons for this. Amongst them are Africans practice the extended family Life, Africans are their brothers’ keepers, Africans love to share and hero worship. I noted specifically that “Due to the extended family life, Africans are their brothers’ keepers. What affects one affects so many. In Facebook, I have friends from Asia (India), Europe (Britain), and the USA. Issues we the Africans discuss are not same with the ones I discuss with friends from other parts of the world. We Africans discuss things that are even seen by some as irrelevant or inconsequential. But to us in African, it matters. We want to know how our third and fourth cousins are doing in their schools are business.”

The above is a proof of what science-daily.com just published. What affects one affects another. When I was first diagnosed of Kidney failure in 2002, it was my wife that willingly and voluntarily donated one of her kidneys to save me. She was not compelled. She did it of her own account. The story clearly portrays the real African. Again when that graft failed, my immediate junior sister donated one of her kidneys to keep me living. We do not want to be alone. We love to share even our lives for one another. Of a truth we have our peculiar problems but that does not make us inconsiderate about the need and pains of our people.

A study conducted at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center which science daily published says “researchers found that African American donate almost exclusively to their family members for living kidney transplants as compare to the Caucasians.” The study also found that “African Americans are more likely to donate to their parents compared to the Caucasians and were slightly less likely to parent to child donation.” It further has that “Caucasian donors were more likely to be related to the recipient than the African Americans.”

According to Reeves-Daniels (one of the researchers for this report) “one of the most surprising findings was that majority of African-Americans kidney donors were men and younger that the white donors.” This gives me a sense of joy and pride that Africans are their brothers’ keepers. Africans should hold their heads high anywhere they find themselves. I believe strongly that God has men and women of great potentials in every race and tribe all over the world. The idea that some are second and third class is from the father of all liars the devil. We should not underestimate our strength in unity. African leaders should sit up and make Africans proud of their continent by establishing democratic and corrupt free government. This will ever make us to be proud of our black race and continent that God gave us. AFRICA I HAIL THEE! AFRICANS KEEP THE GOOD BROTHERLY SPIRIT. I will ever be proud to be an African. God Bless Africa and Africans.  

In reality, Never Let Me Go the muted story of submission to authority, adapted by Alex Garland from the 2005 novel  is a far more complex film than first impressions might suggest. Once we are aware of the the background scenario, a dystopian society ruled over by a remote and disengaged elite whose assurance of their superiority has led to a belief they are entitled to treat people who are not members of their caste as animals,  the reason why the leading trio are leading their sheltered and protected lives and why they are still at school though clearly past school age is simultaneously fascinating and frightening. And sorry folks but there are spoilers ahead because this is not a film review but an article about one of the most important social issues we face, an issue with implications far beyond the raging arguments about climate change, food shortages and economic stability.

Ruth, Kathy and Tommy, young people who have grown up incarcerated in Hailsham, a strange, elite boarding school in the 1970s and as adults become involved in a love triangle made more painful by the consciousness of how short their lives are to be. Ruth is sexy and smart, Tommy is vulnerable and awkward and Kathy — played by Mulligan with an almost unvarying expression of caring concern — is more mature than the others

The trio at the heart of the story are donors – neither givers to charitable or political causes nor those who volunteer to donate organs after their demise, but human clones who are bred to provide replacement organs for real humans. And, we learn, those organs will be removed while the donors are still alive -organ by organ until the donor can no longer survive even on a life support system. Their lives are laid out for them, like factory farmed beasts they are bred and raised to be butchered. Shockingly, nauseatingly, the donors know they will die on a surgical table as their vital organs are taken to preserve the lives of those deemed to be of greater worth.

From one perspective the film is about what it is to be human. The donors – bred to be internally cannibalised – are in every way human. They have human emotions, they feel love, anger, fear, frustration and hope. They form friendships, conspire, betray each other, they know hope and despair are. They are thinking, creative creatures. They are like us. They are of us. The only way these beautiful, doomed young people differ from other humans only in that they were bred to be spare parts and then conditioned to accept their pre ordained fate? They have no free will, they cannot change their destiny.  Change the angle we view the film from a slightly different perspective however and it becomes more than just a science fantasy about the medical benefits that might be derived from research into cloneing or IVF technology, more than just the question of whether the donors are human.

Since the film also posits the implicit question of “how human is a society that breeds fellow humans to slowly kill them in a cold, clinical and bureaucratic way? it forces us to consider they direction in which scientific research is heading. It also reminds us that when our questioning of what the science-is-god freaks are getting up to, we must not be intimidated by the fascistic bullying of science academy evangelicals who tell us nobody except a trained scientist can understand science, we must not be intimidated. We must call their bluff as they try to blind us with the jargon of their trade. We must force answers from them.

What the science cult (because they are a cult) fear most is that people who are not scientists, who have not been indoctrinated with the orthodoxy inculcated by university faculties can understand science. What is more we can often understand the broader implications of scientific research far better than the scientists themselves. These people who, in a different way to the characters in the film lead a cocooned existence are massive on book leaning but almost devoid of the moderating force, life experience. Being by nature control freaks they are obsessed with controlling nature itself, look how frenetically they pursue the goal of extending the human life span even though the rapid increase in longevity during the twentieth century now distorts the balance of society and threatens to plunge those societies into chaos

This then is the dichotomy of Never Let Me Go. The film is in part a tragic romance, in part a dystopian fantasy. Because of this and because it alludes to issues so important the political and academic institutions will go to great lengths to prevent open discussion of them Never Let Me Go is an unlikely but also compelling horror movie. The horror here is not the schlock horror of zombie movies nor even the menace of the unseen. It is not blatant, , werewolves versus vampires; rather, horror hangs in the atmosphere in the stillness of the scenes, the detachment of the characters. The film is about people born to die, born without hope, and while one character observes that while every human completes (the film’s term for dying), people like the inmates of the “school” are not just born to die, they are born to be killed and their organs systematically harvested.

Beyond that there are constant hints at just how inhumane society has become. Hailsham – the name of the school, one of many that “educates” donors – is perceived by one of its leading staff members as a last bastion of ethical behaviour towards its charges. Hailsham cares about whether they are human or not. Despite of asking these questions the school and its staff groom the children not to question; to be compliant, to never question authority to believe that in the words of Dr. Pangloss (Voltaire’s fictional crackpot philosopher) “all is for the best in this the best of all possible worlds.”.

Despite its claims to be a caring, politically correct organisation Hailsham complicity in the systematic slaughter of numerous people in society and in this it resembles those scientists who claim their work is justified although no possible “greater good”, only an infinite arrogance, a God complex, can be discerned in their attempts to create new life forms, breed human / animal hybrids or produce all meat from cloned creatures and render natural breeding obsolete. And they never see the risks of course because scientists never consider adverse consequences.

At the end of the film it is suggested that Hailsham has closed and that the newer schools for clones are really just battery farms. Humans clones as battery hens, bred by a society that would rather ignore them until it needs their organs. And clones so indoctrinated and convinced there is no alternative to the pre – ordained fate that they do not run and do not flee; the closest they come to such an aspiration is wanting to defer their first donation because they have found love.  Human battery animals; is an inevitable progression and wholly believable given the track record of scientists, the amoral desire to go further and further, completely oblivious of where lines should be drawn.  Even the euphemistic words for the process are haunting; “donations” for the harvesting of organs, “completion” for what is effectively murder at the hands of the National Donor Programme. This is a dystopian future, and we see it through eyes of the dystopia’s victims. Oops, what have I just said.

What is most intriguing about Never Let Me Go is the way that the medical police state is imagined to be so entrenched, so invisibly embedded in a pastiche of the repressed, emotionally consitpated, fantasy-England that there is are no splashes of horror when the secret is revealed. Everyone is very English about it: phlegmatic, accepting, rather melancholy but not dispirited. The approach is a shrewd, offering a real insight into how people would actually be — or, indeed, how they actually are in the famine afflicted areas of Africa or the war afflicted areas of Afghanistan and Libya.

The film withholds the explicit fear and passion that another kind of treatment might have aimed for, but it works as a coherent, understated parable of mortality. The inmates of Hailsham become obsessed with the paintings that their art teacher periodically accepts for her “gallery”, convinced that some can stave off their fate by proving to the authorities, through their paintings, that they are higher, nobler souls capable of passion. This is a very Larkinesque idea about perhaps surviving through love and art, and the movie functions as a parable of how, in this real, non-sci-fi world of ours, we go through our lives stoically declining to consider the chilling mystery of our own future deaths and the increasing likelyhood that those deaths will be pre – planed by the state. The film withholds the explicit fear and passion that another kind of treatment might have aimed for, but it works as a cogent, subdued parable of mortality

Never Let Me Go is touching, sinister and thought-provoking in equal measure and, as such, is well worth watching.

Never Let Me Go
Production year: 2010: UK Cert (UK): 12A Runtime: 103 mins Director: Mark Romanek Cast: Andrew Garfield, Carey Mulligan, Charlotte Rampling, Keira Knightley, Sally Hawkins More on this filmMark Romanek directs, and the movie stars Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan and Andrew Garfield

Image via Wikipedia

            I never really thought about this until, a young child in my area needed a heart, and in time she received it, but had it not been for an organ donor, the little girl would have died. I began to think about this, and when the time came to renew my driver’s license I had decided that I would become an organ donor.

            People began to ask me why, and I simple said, when I am dead, I really don’t need my heart, or eyes, or any other organ for that matter.

            Don’t believe that this decision came lightly though I was not sure I wanted my remains tampered with and removed from my body?  Then I worried that it was not right in the eyes of God! The more I pondered the more I realized; and that took about two years, that God would want me to help a young girl get a second chance at life, or to allow a someone to see with my eyes the beautiful world that God has created. With the beautiful trees that surround us, with spring flowers, oceans, lakes and ponds; it was at that point that I realized if I could give my eyesight to a blind person, then it is alright to give my lungs, kidneys; as well as my loving heart.

Image via Wikipedia

            Becoming an organ donor has made me feel good, knowing that I just might make a difference in someone’s life!

© 2009 Dr.P.Elayaraja

Blood is a liquid connective tissue that maintains the life process by continuous circulation. It travels about 100,000 miles in just few hours. Blood cells originate in bone marrows. Bone marrow is the soft and spongy material in the centre of the bone.

Blood contains cells called the erythrocytes (RBC), leucocytes (WBC) and platelets suspended in a straw coloured fluid called the plasma. The primary function of RBC is to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide. They are characterized by the presence of haemoglobin (Hgb), an iron containing protein.

The white blood cells (WBC) fight against bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections. The platelets are responsible for blood clotting.

What is Blood donation?

There are fears that a blood donation will leave us deficient and thin. It is just a myth and the fact is just opposite.  Blood donation is actually healthy for us. It ensures fresh blood production within our body and the donated blood is recovered within a short period of time.

Can I donate blood?

Yes you can, if you satisfy these conditions.

·         A donor (men and women) should be between 18-55 years with a body weight of 50 kg and above.

·         The pulse rate and temperature should be normal.

·         The blood pressure should be within a normal range.

·         Not in starvation or special dieting program.

Who can’t donate blood?

·         Individuals with history of epilepsy, abnormal bleeding, asthma and cardiovascular problems.

·         Pregnant, lactating and menstruating women.

·         Those suffering from diseases like jaundice, malaria, hepatitis, measles and syphilis.

·         People who have undergone surgery and blood transfusion.

·         Individuals who have consumed alcohol.

How much blood is collected and what is done with it?

Only 350 -450 ml of blood is collected from us. Remember, we have 5-6 litres of blood flowing through our body. The withdrawn volume is restored within 24 hours and the haemoglobin and cell components are restored in 5-8 weeks. Therefore, we can donate blood every three months.

The blood is collected in a sterile containers (bags) containing anticoagulants, which prevent clotting and provides nutrition for the cells. The blood is stored at 2-6 C or -20 C depending on the component prepared.

The donated blood undergoes tests for blood grouping, tests for infections like hepatitis, AIDS, malaria and syphilis. Before it is given to the recipient, it undergoes the compatibility test. Blood from one donor can save 4 patients.

Who needs blood?

Someone needs blood every 2 seconds. The list is a long one, here are few recipients.

·         Accident victims

·         Premature babies

·         Patients undergoing major surgeries require whole blood

·         Patients suffering from anemia

·         Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

·         Fresh frozen plasma is used for patients having massive transfusions

·         Patients with hemophilia

Remember friends, your children, your parents, your grandparents, your relatives, your neighbors, your friends and even you may require blood due to some unfortunate conditions. Donate blood and save lives.

© 2009 Dr.P.Elayaraja

What they don’t know is that the most important way of ‘registering’ to become an organ donor is to talk about it with ones friends and family. In that small way, an individual would already have registered his or her wishes to people whom he knows will carry out what he wants if and when the individual will pass away. It is most advisable as well that a person who has decided to donate his organs when he dies, is to discuss this decision with the person who will have the final say. For example if you were single and you have decided to donate your organs when the time comes, you would communicate your decision to your parents. Or, if you were a husband who has come to such a decision as well, you would tell your wife.

Yes, there are forms to fill out and an organ donor card that can be issued to a person once a decision like this has been made but as was stated earlier, a persons’ talking this kind of choice over with family and friends already ensures that his or her wishes be carried. The forms are merely for formality and also for certain situations where in other people need to know as well. A common example of this is when an individual meets an accident and dies as a result and there is no one available to let the medical people know of the said individuals wishes and by the time the family is able to communicate with the medical people, it is already to late for the organs to be harvested.

In principle, contrary to most peoples’ common notion those only organs such as the heart, liver, kidneys and eyes are what they can donate and can be transplanted. This notion is actually not entirely true as facts said that currently, transplanted human tissues include bone, corneas, skin, heart valves, veins, cartilage and other connective tissues. Tissues such as these can be used to treat patients suffering from congenital defects, blindness, visual impairment, trauma, burns, dental defects, arthritis, cancer, vascular and heart disease. In addition, many heart valves are used to treat children with congenital defects of their own heart valves.

The medical world categorizes organ donors into two types. The first type is what they call the living-related donor, the second the cadaver donor. The living-related donor is just what the title states, this would be a person who is related to the patient and is willing to donate one of his or her organs. Let us stress that the act of organ donation is without any danger to the donor’s life and will not cause any alteration to the donors physical activities. Now for a living-related organ donation, not all organs cited above can be donated. The only organs that can be donated by a living-related donor will be one kidney, bone marrow, and a part of the liver. Obviously a living related donor cannot donate his corneas nor his heart because that goes against the rule that organ donation should not cause any danger to the donor’s life and should not cause any alteration to his physical activities.

The cadaver donor has suffered injury by trauma or disease to the brain, destroying brain functions. Before an individual can become a cadaver donor, he or she has to be certified as brain dead. For some countries, here in the Philippines, it would take the certification of a neurologist or neurosurgeon supported by imaging studies like X-rays, CT scans, MRI’s and ECG’s. If the donor has been tagged as brain dead, organs that can be harvested which include kidneys, the liver, bone marrow, long bones, corneas, pancreas, lungs and the heart are then collected with after a signed consent of the nearest-of-kin, or if declared in the donors last will and testament. Some countries though, like Singapore, Spain and Denmark, their system decrees that that unless the donor has previously indicated his refusal to donate, his organs can be harvested.

Filipinos are known for their deep family ties and religious devotion, not to mention for their superstitious and traditional beliefs. These and misinformation about organ donation are the biggest reasons why cadaver harvests are grimly low. Some of the seriously damaging myths borne from misinformation are that potential donors believe that their bodies will be mutilated when the organs are harvested. The fact of the matter is donated organs are surgically removed in a routine operation similar to appendix removal making normal funeral arrangements possible. Of course when a donor decides to donate, let it also be known that a declaration of this intent doesn’t mean that all possible organs will be harvested, a donor has the right to specify which particular organ to donate. It is also in this country where you will here someone say “I can’t donate blood, my religion forbids it.” What more if one would suggest to this type of person about donating a body organ?

Often times though, it isn’t the religion but the person itself who thinks it is forbidden. In the Philippines, it is a fact that all organized religions support donation, which is characteristic of a generous act – an individual’s choice. Questions about whether or not one is of the right age to become an organ donor is apparently being asked, the answer is, someone as young as a newborn can be an organ donor. Age limits for organ donation no longer exists, however, the general age limit for donors donating tissue is seventy.

There also are questions leaning on the paranoid where a potential donor thinks that should he be in an accident or other life threatening situation and the medical respondents know that he wants to be a donor, the doctors will no try to save his life. This is absolutely untrue. The medical team treating any type of patients’ goal is to use all life saving efforts to save the patient. The transplant team, which is separate from the medical team treating a patient, is not notified until a patient has been certified as brain dead. And that is not until the patients’ family has consented to donation.

As new as organ donation may seem, or as foreign, to the Filipino culture, what everyone should bear in mind is that organ donation is equivalent to saving lives. Aside from that transplant can also be ‘life-enhancing’. When one loses his or her eyesight we can only imagine the devastation that person goes through. Giving the gift of sight to someone such as this person can mean another shot at life, a rebirth that can only be a dream if we don’t become more open to the idea of organ donation.

Here’s a quote from the ‘The Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines’ website:
“the scene was a sad and all
too common one, a person gone blind, usually, young and
poor…
…in need of a corneal
transplant to restore his sight;
a doctor technically skilled to
do so but helpless
nonetheless…
simply because of the utter
lack of precious cornea
tissues”

Is it not worth it to give someone else a chance if you yourself can call it a good life and are ready to move on from this earth?
The Organ Donor Card Project was conceived by an organization called the ‘Human Organ Preservation Effort’ other wise called H.O.P.E. to help relatives make the decision to donate. It is said to be not the equivalent of a legal consent document as of the prevent time however it can help relatives of the donor realize that their kin has consented before hand and that perhaps his wishes be respected.

A properly filled up Organ Donor Card indicates a person’s willingness to help someone even after his passing. The card serves as a personal consent form for organ donation and indicates to both medical personnel and relatives (if it hasn’t been discussed with them yet) that this individual is willing to donate his or her organs for transplant. Le it be reiterated that the presence of such a card on an individual does not mean that aggressive life-saving measures will not be performed in the event of an emergency.

A fact to note, the Philippines having a population of approximately 76.4 million people, according to the 2000 Census of Population and Housing, has only four Transplant Coordinators for the entire country. From the listing of H.O.P.E’s website* they are:
Helen F. Alonzo, RN – Supervisor
Maria Aurora A. Yusi, RN
Marilou L. Garcia
Maria Paz C. Jose – Secretary
*I suggest you visit the H.O.P.E website as well for first hand information at his link:
Another website which also acted as my reference and worthy of visiting for more information on being an eye donor is from this link.

Below is what the organ donor card and eye donor card look like.

I encourage everyone from the mildly curious to the one’s who really want know to ask and find out more, after all no one can give you pressure about matters such as this and only you can truly have the power to decide whether or not you would like to donate your organs.