Kastamonu organ donation event promotes health literacy and patient rights

Kastamonu Provincial Health Directorate and Kastamonu University’s Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences organized a social responsibility event during Organ Donation Week. The program, titled “Knowledge Reduces Violence: The Protective Power of Health Literacy and Effective Communication,” took place at the university.

Provincial Health Director Dr. Fevzi Yavuzyılmaz said health literacy, organ donation and patient rights are three complementary fields. He explained that health literacy enables people to access, understand and evaluate health information so they can make informed decisions.

“Organ donation is an ethical and socially significant issue; making the right decision depends largely on the level of this skill, because decisions not based on knowledge are open to false beliefs and social hesitation.”

Yavuzyılmaz described organ donation as a solidarity act based on volunteering, informed consent and respect for bodily integrity. He said patient rights provide a framework for protecting human dignity, autonomy and privacy.

Health workers set up information booths in the faculty cafeteria on patient rights, organ donation and cancer awareness. Visiting students received brochures.

The event also featured presentations and a health-themed theater performance to raise awareness. Organ Donation Week in Kastamonu runs from November 3 to 9.

Yavuzyılmaz stressed that reducing the gap between patients on organ waiting lists and donation rates requires higher health literacy and public trust in the health system. He called protecting patient rights and increasing donation awareness a shared responsibility.