The Carlos Slim Foundation and the National Institute of Cardiology Ignacio Chavez recognize organ donors and individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the procurement and transplantation of organs.- Dr. Mercedes Juan, Minister of Health, headed the event and expressed her commitment to enhancing the culture of donation and organ transplants.
- Mr. Carlos Slim Domit referred to donors as real heroes, who are a tangible example for society.
In the Main Auditorium of the National Institute of Cardiology Ignacio Chavez, it was conducted the awarding of the Heroes for Life Recognition. The event organized by the Carlos Slim Foundation, through the Carlos Slim Health Institute (CSHI), aims to recognize volunteer donors; who, alive or after living, generously donated organs for health recovery of someone else.
Dr. Mercedes Juan Lopez, Federal Minister of Health; Dr. Marco Antonio Martinez Rios, General Director of the National Institute of Cardiology; Dr. Magdalena Madero, Chief of the Department of Nephrology and Head of the Kidney Transplant Program; and Mr. Carlos Slim Domit, representing the Carlos Slim Foundation; were present at the event. Also, the General Directors of the National Institutes of Health and Federal Hospitals; health personnel involved in the field of transplantation; and directive and operative teams of the 19 allies, with which the CHSI has agreements including federal entities, opinion leaders, leaders of civil organizations, general public and media; attended.
The Carlos Slim Foundation and the National Institute of Cardiology seek to promote donation culture together, recognizing people who have donated organs. At the event, 21 Heroes for Life Recognitions were awarded to donors alive and to family members of deceased donors. Additionally, 8 people, working at the National Institute of Cardiology in the program of organ procurement and transplantation, were also recognized.
In Mexico there are about 5,925 organ transplants performed annually; Most of these are of cornea (3.025), kidney (2,707), liver (149) and heart (44). At June 21, 2014, there are a total of 18,524 people on the waiting list for a transplant. Of this total, 10,903 people are waiting for a kidney transplant; 7,169 corneal transplant; 386 liver transplants; and 43 heart transplant. The rest is waiting for multi-organ transplants.
The number of transplants performed per year is equivalent to 32% of the waiting list. It is expected that the number of people requiring a transplant increases, due to increases in chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension and obesity. Since these conditions affect the proper functioning of organs such as the kidneys and heart.
With the support of INBURSA Foundation and through the CSHI, have been provided resources to facilitate the access of 8,037 people with limited resources to a transplant; mainly kidney, cornea, liver and heart. These transplants are supported through the signing of cooperation agreements with state governments, National Institutes of Health and General Hospitals. Particularly, the CSHI has supported 311 kidney transplants and 6 heart transplants in the National Institute of Cardiology.
Since 2012, there are being carried out events like this awarding of recognitions in different institutions; working together in favor of the organ donation culture and transplantation. They mainly celebrate life in its broadest sense: generosity.
In the event, Mr. Carlos Slim praised organ donors and referred to them as real heroes and as a tangible example for society. Along with Dr. Juan Mercedes Martinez and Dr. Rivers, he delivered the Heroes for Life sculptures from the artist Romero Britto; a winged heart, symbolizing selflessness giving and joy of donate life. The wings symbolize the help provided, so the receiver can resume the flight and continue with his life after undergoing a transplant.
Finally, Mr. Slim, on behalf of the Carlos Slim Foundation, with Dr. Juan Mercedes endorsed the commitment to continue working with the Federal Ministry of Health; to promote the donation culture and support so that, with transparency in organs management, more transplants are performed and with better quality.
