President Zardari first president to donate all body

President Zardari first president to donate all body
organs March 18, 2010q






ISLAMABAD, Mar 17, 2010 (APP):
President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday became the first
President to donate all his body organs, after signing a
landmark bill to regulate transplant of human organs in
the country.The President made the announcement of
“donating his whole body” after his life, as he inked
the document in a ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr, also
attended among others by Federal Ministers and health
experts.



President
Zardari said he took the decision in light of Shaheed
Benazir Bhutto’s philosophy of living for others. The
President said
Pakistan was
singled out in the world community due to the notorious
trade of organ transplant of body organs and urged the
Parliament and the doctors to create awareness about the
issue among the masses.

He asked the
doctor’s community to inform the government in case of
any violation and help save precious lives. “No law can
be effective without people’s support,” the President
said and sought the help of the masses in countering the
illegal trade.


The President
said “Pakistanis were a responsible nation and known for
being thoughtful, forgiving and loving.”

Zardari
said only a small mindset was bringing bad name to the
country. “What we look for is discipline of mind,” he
added. The law that now makes sale and unauthorized
transplant of body organs punishable with up to 10 years
in prison provides for a regulatory mechanism, including
a high-level federal monitoring authority and evaluation
committees, for the removal, storage and transplantation
of human organs and tissues for therapeutic purposes.

The
President said by using modern technology,
Pakistan can be made a better place to live in and
appreciated the political consensus evolved to make the
legislation a success. The President earlier gave his
assent to the bill, making it into a law with immediate
effect. The event was attended by Minister for Health
Makhdoom Shahabudin, Minister for Water and Power Raja
Pervaiz Ashraf, Minister for Commerce Amin Fahim,
Minister for Food Nazar Mohammad Gondal, Minister of
State for Interior Tasleem Qureshi.



Health Minister
Shahbuddin said in
Pakistan over
50,000 die each year because of kidney, 10,000 because
of liver and 6,500 of heart failure and the new
legislation would go a long way in legalising the
serious humanitarian issue. He said organ transplant was
also permitted in the religion and was legal in
countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon and
Turkey. He said now 42 institutions across the country
have been authorised to conduct the transplants.