Up to 8 Lives Saved: UAE Health Ministry Uses Powerful Art to Promote Organ Donation – News

Visitors to the Sikka Art and Design Festival in the Al Fahidi Historic District Register now for the program

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (Mohap) is using powerful art to inspire more people to sign up for organ donation. Using holograms to form the shapes of organs, including lungs, kidneys and hearts, the interactive art installation gives visitors the chance to discover the benefits of organ donation.

“A single organ donor can save up to eight lives,” a spokesman said. “For so many others, it’s been a gift of life.”

Mohap participated for the first time at the 11th Sikka Festival of Art and Design in the Al Fahidi Historic District, using an innovative and interactive ‘Art for Health’ program to convey the message of the National Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Program (Hayat).

Interactive screens allow visitors to wave their hands and watch the organs come to life. A quote projected on the wall reads: “Giving is life and life is a gift. Donate and give life to others. Life deserves a second chance.”

Visitors to the exhibition in Hall 5 can immediately choose to register for the Hayat program using the QR code. Entrants’ names will also be entered into a lucky draw.

However, the spokesman acknowledged that there are psychological barriers to organ donation. “Currently, there are 158 people enrolled in the program,” she said. “Organ donation breathes new life into a lot of people. So, for one organ donor, even if they die, they end up saving eight lives.”

Amina, a visitor to the Art House, signed up on the spot. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” she said. “I wasn’t sure where or how to do it. So when I got here and saw how easy it was to sign up, I signed up right away.”

Under the Hayat scheme, anyone in the UAE who is 21 and older and holds an Emirates ID can register to donate an organ. However, after the person dies or is brain dead, the consent of the family is required to make a donation.

Hayat is a collaboration of many federal and local authorities and was created by federal decree passed in 2016.

In 2021, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, praised a family in the UAE for donating the organs of their young child, thereby Saved the lives of three children in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Held under the theme of “New Ideas”. Same Path’, Sikka Festival showcases a wide variety of artworks, installations, murals and creative exhibitions throughout the festival. Visitors can also attend several free workshops during the festival, which runs through March 5.

The festival featured six murals, nine outdoor installations and more than 100 talks, panels and workshops highlighting trends in the international art world. This will be complemented by a wide range of film and music performances and entertainment in partnership with Brand Dubai, as well as over 30 local dining concepts celebrating Dubai’s local culture and rich flavours.