As part of 3-9 November Organ and Tissue Donation Week, Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) organized a panel titled “Organ Donation in TRNC” and an Organ Donation event. Held on Thursday, 6 November 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at Mustafa Afşin Ersoy hall, the said event was organized in collaboration with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Ministry of Health and EMU Student Development, Events and Sports Affairs Directorate with the contributions of Dr. Fazıl Küçük Medicine Faculty and Faculty of Health Sciences. Scientific Research Society, Nursing Club, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Club and, Nutrition and Dietetics Club operating at EMU provided significant contributions to the event which was held with “Bağışınız Umut, İziniz Yaşam Olsun / Let Your Donation Bring Hope, Leave a Legacy of Life”.
The panel was attended by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Düriye Deren Oygar, Undersecretary at the TRNC Ministry of Health; EMU Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Dr. Osman M. Karatepe; EMU Vice Rector for Student Affairs Prof. Dr. Sonuç Zorlu; Ahmet Varoğlu, Coordination Board Member at the Ministry of Health, faculty deans, department heads, academics and students.
“A Major Social Responsibility”
In his opening speech, EMU Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Dr. Karatepe noted that EMU’s 46-year history of contributions to education, research, and society, highlighting its significant impact in the healthcare field. Prof. Dr. Karatepe also emphasized the importance of the organ donation panel for both the university and the broader community. Underlining that universities should go beyond teaching and research by actively promoting social awareness, he pointed out that organ donation is not only an individual decision but should be discussed within families, fostering empathy and offering hope to those in need. Prof. Dr. Karatepe added that lives saved through organ donation can lead to future societal contributions, making it a major social responsibility. He concluded by thanking the student clubs, the Ministry of Health, and the Faculties of Medicine and Health Sciences for their efforts in organizing the event, wishing it to be both meaningful and productive.
“Achievable with Awareness and Effort”
EMU Vice Rector for Student Affairs Prof. Dr. Sonuç Zorlu stressed the importance of organ donation in saving lives and giving hope for new beginnings. She explained that donated organs can restore life, while tissue transplants can bring light to the world. Prof. Dr. Zorlu underscored that thousands of people start each day hoping for an organ transplant, and fulfilling this hope requires awareness and effort, not just wishes. Noting that the event successfully raised awareness and encouraged organ donation, Prof. Dr. Zorlu thanked the Ministry of Health, EMU’s Faculties of Medicine and Health Sciences, the Student Development, Events and Sports Affairs Directorate, and the contributing student clubs, expressing her hope that the message about organ donation reaches an even broader audience.
Moderated by the Acting Dean of EMU Dr. Fazıl Küçük Medicine Faculty Dr. Nilüfer Güzoğlu and the Dean of Faculty of Health Sciences Prof. Dr. Mehtap Malkoç, the “Organ Donation in TRNC” panel featured Ministry of Health’s Undersecretary and Nephrologist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Düriye Deren Oygar, Dr. Fazıl Küçük Medicine Faculty academic staff and Neurologist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Amber Eker, Internal Medicine and Nephrology Specialist Dr. Ahmet Behlül, Barış Mental and Neurological Diseases Hospital Psychiatrist Dr. Gözde Ataöv, and transplant patient İbrahim Yazıcı as panellists.
The panel explored the current state of organ donation in the TRNC, covering topics such as the Human Cell, Tissue, and Organ Transplant Law, brain death, the psychological aspects of organ donation, global challenges and solutions, as well as patients’ and families’ experiences. Following the discussion, EMU Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Dr. Osman M. Karatepe and Vice Rector for Student Affairs Prof. Dr. Sonuç Zorlu presented plaques to the speakers. Throughout the event, registrations for organ and tissue donation were also collected from participants willing to contribute.