The capital hosted another charity race - the festival "My Heart" ("you are the champion of my heart"), which brought together more than 4 thousand participants. 
  
The sports festival was held on the territory of the EXPO with the support of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Akimat of Astana. The traditional race is held in honor of a significant date - the first successful heart transplant in Kazakhstan, which took place on August 8, 2012. This year the event was held for the fifth time. The sports event is aimed at raising awareness of Kazakhstanis about the relevance of organ transplantation, including posthumous donation. 
  
As part of the sports festival, there were races at a distance of 1, 3 and 10 km, a master class on iodine, a concert program with the participation of a pop star, a raffle of prizes from the event's partners, the sale of works by craftsmen and clothing from local manufacturers. 
 
- This is not just a sporting event, this is an event that really gives hope to thousands of patients who care about their work for the organ, a chance for health and a long life. And the task of each participant of the race is to draw public attention to the problematic issues of transplantation in our country. This is a tribute to those people who became donors to thousands of our citizens, 18-year-old Maxim, who passed away three weeks ago as a result of an accident and became a donor. I would like to use this podium once again to congratulate her parents and celebrate the feat of Maxim, who gave life to 4 people. The issues of transplantation remain relevant for our society, this is a completely new direction. Let this festival grow every year and as many people as possible realize the importance of donation, - said the Minister of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan Akmaral Alnazarova. 
  
According to Yuri Pya, a leading Russian cardiac transplant surgeon, chairman of the Board of the University Medical Center Corporate Foundation, the potential of domestic transplant centers is not being fully used due to the insufficient number of donors. 
 
 - From 2012 to today, only 97 heart transplants have been performed, although about 150 patients are currently in the heart transplant essay. Unfortunately, many do not wait. This year, two heart transplants were performed, as well as last year. We have three centers that are supposed to perform heart transplantation, that is, technology and staffing, we are ready. The main reason that contributes to the development of transplantation in the country, I think, is the awareness of the population. As a society, we have to extend. For example, in the Czech Republic, which is more than twice as large as us in terms of population, an average of about 60 heart transplants are performed per year. This suggests that people are more open and understanding about this problem. Everyone should know that donation is a noble cause. If after this event someone fails to create and, if necessary, he/she agrees to donate, this is already an achievement," Yuri Pya said. 
  
He refuted the main fear of patients who do not consent to posthumous donation, fearing possible illegal actions by medical workers. 
 
- It's just unperturbed. When a posthumous donor appears, a lot of different organizations participate in this - these are not only medical institutions, but also city authorities, legal and judicial authorities, in order to state brain death," Yuri Pya assured.

According to this Republican Center for the Coordination of Transplantation, 4099 patients are on the waiting list for organ transplantation. Among them, 3,660 adults and 85 children need mail transplantation, 180 adults and 10 children need cookies, 138 adults and 6 children need hearts, 15 adults need lungs, 2 adults and 3 children need a heart-lung kit. 
 
- Unfortunately, some of the transplantology remains in the shadows, and many do not think that it can affect us or our loved ones. The increase in the number of participants in our race from 500 in the first year to over 4,000 this year will prove that our work matters. These are not just numbers - these are people who understand the importance of donation and are ready to participate in achieving a common goal," said Murat Zaurov, director of the Public Foundation Heart Center Foundation. 
 
According to the organizers, all funds raised during the race will be used to conduct educational programs and master classes for specialists in the field of transplantation from the regions of Kazakhstan, enlightened activities of the Heart Center Foundation. 
  
Source: https://elorda.info 
Video: https://24.kz


 YouTube video: Astana hosted the charity race "winner of the heart" YouTube video: Astana hosted the charity race "winner of the heart"