Justice Edwin Cameron
Caroline Buckland
The ChancePlant Initiative is a student-run organisation founded by Jared Falcke and Francesca Maraschin, both Wits medical students. It is closely affiliated with The Transplant Trust. The initiative aims to increase the number of organ donors in South Africa by stimulating the conversion and dispelling some myths surrounding organ donation. We also hope to make organ transplant accessible to all in South Africa — not just a select few.
The initiative has three main objectives. Firstly, to fundraise and source the capital needed to refurbish two sanctioned wards (ICU and high care) as well as an exclusive transplant theatre at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. Secondly, it aims to educate the public about organ donation. Thirdly, to facilitate awareness and ethics through delving into some South African societal issues surrounding organ transplant.
The Chanceplant Initiative is involved in many projects. The Initiative runs an annual debate attended by medical students, scholars, doctors, and many from the bioethics community. Each year the debate tackles an ethical issue surrounding transplant in South Africa. The previous topic was whether the ‘opt-in’ or ‘opt-out’ system of organ procurement is superior and whether an opt-out system would be feasible in South Africa. An opt-in system, which is currently used in South Africa, relies on individuals personally signing up to be organ donors. The opt-out system assumes all people in a country are willing deceased organ donors unless they specify otherwise. These conversations are essential, but also controversial and emotionally charged. Our debate fully explored these ideas.
The ChancePlant Initiative is involved at the annual Wits Health Awareness Week as well as visiting schools. We aim to give people accurate information about organ donation and to open a conversation about the role of organ donation in South Africa. The initiative takes part in the annual 702 Walk the Talk campaign to raise awareness for our cause, and is involved in research projects at the Transplant Unit at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre. These projects aim to increase the amount of transplant research within the South African context.
The Initiative will continue with all our projects in the future and we aim to gather a greater following to ensure that the conversation continues. For more information on the ChancePlant Initiative and to become an organ donor please visit www.chanceplant.org.za