The Syro Malabar Society (SYMS) has joined forces with the Bahrain chapter of the Kidney Federation of India (KFI) to launch the drive, which will specifically target expatriates.

It hopes to ease the suffering of scores of people waiting for kidney transplants in both countries.

"This is a first of its kind initiative where we aim to have donors in Bahrain, who could help save lives of several patients waiting for kidney donors," said Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) accident and emergency department chief Dr P V Cheriyan.

He said KFI was co-ordinating with the Bahrain Kidney Patients Friendship Society and officials from the SMC's Almoayyed Nephrology and Kidney Transplant Centre to help them carry out an awareness campaign.

Dr Cheriyan, who is also co-ordinator of the KFI Bahrain chapter, said donors would be issued special cards and given rings, which can be worn on their hand.

"This is a noble gesture as organs after death can help save lives of many people desperate for donors," he said.

"We will collect signatures of the donors who will be registered in the organ database of the KFI," he said.

Dr Cheriyan said strict medical rules stipulated that patients must be declared "brain dead" by medical staff and have the consent of their family before their kidneys and other organs could be harvested.

"There are not many transplants conducted as the problem of donors and the process of getting approval from the families, among other issues, hinder the process," Dr Cheriyan added.

"But if there are several donors available, it will certainly make a difference," he added.

Dr Cheriyan said the Kerala-based KFI aimed to bring together efforts of organisations and people in Bahrain to encourage people to become organ donors and help those in need.

As part of its activities, SYMS and KFI will conduct an awareness workshop at the NGO centre in Tubli tomorrow, starting at 11am.

"This is in order to make the public aware of the activities and ensure their participation in this noble movement," said Dr Cheriyan.

"We intend to help patients in Bahrain by setting up a database of donors available locally."

Last month, health officials warned patients suffering from renal ailments not to travel abroad for transplant surgeries after six Bahrainis suffered from serious complications, including the death of a 50-year-old Bahraini in June after he received treatment for renal failure abroad.

According to officials, several Bahrainis have travelled to the Philippines, Egypt and other countries for organ transplants, with many becoming infected after the operations as the facilities are not up to international standards.

The latest Health Ministry statistics show an estimated 500 patients suffer from renal failure in Bahrain, but the SMC's nephrology centre is only capable of conducting 30 surgeries annually. The centre plans to conduct 18 transplants this year.