The ODF is the national umbrella body for the promotion of organ and tissue donation. We actively plan and implement education and publicity programmes that are designed to raise awareness of organ and tissue donation with the aim being to prime individuals towards consent.
The ODF is not a medical organization and plays no role in the allocation, or procurement, of organs. We receive no funding from government and rely entirely on our own fundraising initiatives and generous donations from corporates and individuals to support our work.
The Foundation has two main focuses:
To raise awareness amongst the entire South African population about the need for, and the benefits of, organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
To educate medical professionals, in both the public and private sector, about the transplantation process. We aim to motivate medical personnel to consider organ and tissue donation when assessing brain-dead patients and help achieve a more efficient referral system, so that more life-saving organ transplants and more life restoring tissue transplants will be performed in South Africa.
We also administer an Emergency Flight Plan, which pays for the transportation of vital organs from outlying areas to transplant hospitals if sponsored flights and/or funding is available to do so.