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Fifty-two Manitobans have received kidney transplants as part of a specialized national program helping those needing a very specific match that has now hit 1,000 donations.
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Canadian Blood Services’ Highly Sensitized Patient Program operates in collaboration with Transplant Manitoba — Gift of Life at the Health Sciences Centre, and other provincial donation and transplant programs across the country to offer hope to those who otherwise might not receive a transplant.
Launched in 2013, the program gives provincial programs access to a larger pool of kidney donors for those whose bodies would reject most of the organs that become available.
Those patients have exceptionally high antibody levels. Immune system sensitization may be a result of blood transfusions, previous transfusions, or pregnancies.
“These patients must have a perfect organ match. Finding a match for these patients is challenging and without the HSP program, it may take up to 15 years on average to find, if at all,” said Dr. Julie Ho, (Interim) Medical Director, Transplant Manitoba in a news release.
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About 20% of those on provincial waitlists are highly sensitized but receive about 1% of available organs.
Fourty-four Manitobans have donated kidneys through Transplant Manitoba.
HSP encourages all Canadians to register their decision to become an organ and tissue donor and to share their decision with family and loved ones.
You can learn more about deceased donation and how you can register your intent to donate at organtissuedonation.ca or go to signupforlife.ca to register in Manitoba.
More than 70,000 Manitobans have registered using the online donor registry. Registration takes about two minutes to complete and only requires three things — your name, your date of birth and your nine-digit Manitoba Health number.
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