Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing academics Prof. Dr. Gülten Sucu Dağ and Dr. Gülcan Dürüst Sakallı issued a statement titled “One Donation, Multiple Lives: Give Hope for Life Through Organ Donation!” on the occasion of 3-9 November Organ and Tissue Donation Week. The statement by Prof. Dr. Sucu Dağ and Dr. Dürüst Sakallı reads as follows:

“Organ and tissue donation is not only one of the most important life-saving practices offered by modern medicine but also one of the most meaningful expressions of human solidarity. For patients struggling with organ failure, transplantation can sometimes be their only chance of survival, while in other cases, it offers the opportunity to lead a more independent life with an improved quality of life following years of medical treatment.

Behind Every Patient Awaiting an Organ Transplant Lies a Life Story

Waiting for an organ transplant involves much more than a medical treatment process. It also brings physical, psychological, social and financial challenges for patients and their families. For a patient undergoing regular dialysis due to kidney failure, a young person awaiting a heart transplant or a parent struggling with liver failure, finding a suitable donor organ can mean a chance to rebuild their life.

Lives behind the Numbers: Organ Transplantation Worldwide, in Türkiye and the TRNC

Despite significant advances in the field of organ transplantation, thousands of people are still waiting for a suitable donor organ to survive. According to data from the Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation (GODT), more than 183,800 organ transplants were performed across 96 reporting countries worldwide in 2025. Of these, 116,775 were kidney transplants and 45,554 were liver transplants. In Türkiye, 5,095 organ transplants were performed in 2025, while data released in 2026 indicate that 30,675 patients are still awaiting organ transplantation. Furthermore, it was reported that 4,769 people lost their lives while waiting for an organ transplant in 2025. In the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), according to data shared in 2025, a total of 70 kidney transplants, including 33 from deceased donors, and six heart transplants had been performed since 2015. During the same period, approximately 120 patients were reported to be awaiting kidney transplants, while 20 were waiting for heart transplants. These figures represent far more than mere healthcare statistics. Behind every number is a patient hoping to recover, an individual longing to reunite with loved ones, and a family waiting for good news. For this reason, organ donation is not merely a medical procedure but one of the most precious gifts of hope for life that one person can offer another. Individuals wishing to become organ donors can apply by completing the Organ and Tissue Donation Form available on the Ministry of Health’s website

One day, any of us may find ourselves in need of hope. Choosing to be someone else’s hope today is one of the most meaningful decisions we can make.”