Enes Ferizović was on dialysis for years, and thanks to a kidney transplant in 2018, he stepped into a new life.
"In the EU, all these countries have developed health systems, donor cards at full capacity, and Montenegro does not have that. I wondered why this was so. The people in Montenegro are believers, I thought that this contradicted religion. I asked around a bit, I see that they support all these religions. I come to the conclusion, that this conclusion is the insufficiently developed awareness of Montenegrin society," said Ferizović.
Data shows that in Montenegro, 99 patients, including eight children, are waiting for organ transplants, and the number of kidney patients is also growing.
"In the last 14 years alone, the number of patients on chronic dialysis programs has increased by a dramatic 35 percent, and we are also registering a 25 percent increase in the number of patients with kidney transplants," points out Elvir Mučić, director of the Nephrology Clinic of the Clinical Center of Montenegro (KCCG).
Therefore, the authorities launched the "Signature for Life" campaign to raise awareness about organ donation. Health system leaders invited citizens to sign donor cards, which, in the event of death, their organs could be donated to those who need them, through transplantation.
"In February, the kidney transplant program from a living donor continued and the stem cell transplant program began. The end of one life can provide someone with a new beginning, and that new beginning can be life for up to 7 patients," said Aleksandar Radović, director of the KCCG.
"Life is a gift, and the gift of life is the greatest expression of humanity," added Health Minister Vojislav Šimun.
Donor cards have been trying to be promoted in Montenegro for years, but it has not been announced how many citizens have signed them so far. However, Šimun and Radović set a personal example – and opted for this humane step. So, we can be humane even after death, and the only thing separating us from that is a signature on a donor card.
Bonus video:
