1. By Dr.(Mrs.)Mosunmade Faderin-Omotosho Medical Director Eye Bank for Restoring Sight, Nigeria

2.  An act to provide a framework for the regulation, development and management of a national health system  To set standards for rendering health services in the Federation, and other matters connected therewith.

3.  The Act is set to achieve the Universal Health Coverage and to meet the Millennium Development Goals(MDG’s).  It provides for the elimination of quacks from professionals.  To provide the basic health funds needed by Nigerians.  To provide health care insurance to certain class of people who are actually deprived.  It seeks to reduce maternal and infant mortality.  Improve funding of health care services at the grass roots.  Cut down on medical tourism which is draining a lot of resources.

4. The journey for the passage of the bill started in 2008,with the 1 st reading on Tuesday 5 th February 2008. 2 nd reading Tuesday 19 th February 2008 3 rd reading and passage by the Senate on Thursday 15 th May 2008. Mr. President sent it back to the National Assembly to amend and review some areas. The whole process started all over, from the Lower House to the Senate. 1 st reading Tuesday 2 nd October 2012 2 nd reading Wednesday 12 th December 2012 3 rd reading and passage by the Senate on Wednesday 19 th 2014. Mr. President eventually signed it into law on December 9 th 2014.

5.  The Minister of Health shall establish a National Blood Transfusion Service for the Federation and make regulations for its maintenance.  Each State in the Federation may then set up Blood Transfusion service as they find appropriate.

6.  Organ, tissue, blood or blood products may not be removed from the body of another living person unless done with the informed and written consent of the person from whom it is to be removed.  Such organs or tissue removed will be used for medical or dental purposes as may be prescribed.  Organs, tissue or blood and blood products should not be taken from people who cannot give consent and people younger than 18years old.  Removal and transplantation of tissues, organ, blood and blood products shall only be carried out in a hospital authorized for that purpose and on the written authority of the medical practitioner in charge of the hospital.

7. This is the donation of biological tissue or organ of the human body from a living or dead person to a living recipient in need of transplantation. Most organ and tissue donation occur after the donor has died, although some organs and tissue can be donated while the donor is alive, lung, kidney, liver, and intestine. Organ donation is very alien in our culture. People don’t believe they should part with any part of their body even at death. Religious beliefs, taboos, beliefs in reincarnation, use of body parts for rituals, are some of the reasons the average Nigerian has not taken up the culture of organ donation.

8.  There must not be any form of financial or any reward given to donors, except for reimbursement of costs incurred in providing the service (eg. transportation).  Organs and tissues so obtained must not be sold or traded in any form. Anyone found guilty of such is liable on conviction to a fine or imprisonment or both.  Such donated organs and tissues shall only be used in the prescribed manner in accordance with the prescribed procedures.

9.  Anyone can be an organ or tissue donor, old and young, but anyone under age 18yrs needs the parent or guardian consent.  Organ donation form must be filled and the donor card carried at all times by the donor. You can either be an organ or tissue donor. In some countries this information is included in the drivers license.  To be a donor can be included in the will, and this must be witnessed by two witnesses.  The identity of the donor is never revealed to the recipient or vice versa as the transplant centers are required by law to protect the confidentiality of donors and recipients.  People with certain conditions cannot be donors; people living with AIDS, HIV, Infections and communicable diseases (TB, Syphilis etc), Cancer  A donor prior to the removal of the organ for transplantation can revoke his decision in writing in the same way in which the decision was made.

10.  Organs : kidney, heart, liver, lung, pancreas, intestine  Tissues : cornea, middle ear, skin, heart valves, bone, bone marrow, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, veins  Stem cells, blood and blood platelets can also be donated.

11.  Majority of Nigerians are not aware that they can be donors.  Most people do not believe that organs or tissues can be transplanted.  Those that are aware do not know that such procedures are available in Nigeria and that it can be done successfully.  Most practitioners are not willing to be donors and how then can we encourage patients and our relatives to take up this culture of donation.  The government should put in place adequate advocacy plans, just like what was done for blood donation.  Organ/tissue donation should be taught in schools –Let’s catch them young.  Seeing is Believing organ donations and transplantation should be given enough publicity, not just a passing piece of news as it is done now.  Let us remember that by being an organ or tissue donor we are giving A GIFT OF LIFE – A GIFT THAT GOES ON LIVING.  SPREAD THE WORD AND SAVE A LIFE

12.  Thank you for your attention