BY REBECCA BATES
@waitingforfood1
As DonateLife week draws to a close in NSW, Australians are being asked, ‘If you’d say yes to a life-saving transplant, have you said yes to becoming an organ and tissue donor?’
At the official launch at Westmead Hospital last Monday, Minister for Health Jillian Skinner urged citizens to not only sign up to the Organ Donor Register, but to make their wishes clear to their families and loved ones.
“Organ donation is a very rare event – only about one per cent of deaths occur in circumstances which allow organ donation to take place,” said Mrs Skinner.
In NSW last year, 92 organ donors resulted in 263 life-saving organ transplants; one organ and tissue donor can save the lives of up to 10 people. Only about 30 per cent of the state’s population have registered their intent to donate, and 1600 people remain on the Australian Organ Transplant waiting list.
The Donor Register is a quick, private, and easy way to register to become a donor. Discussing donation with your family or those close to you is important because they will be asked to give consent if you die, regardless of whether you have registered or not.
“Our 2015 target is 116 organ donors and I urge the people of NSW to join us in our bid to meet that target,” Mrs Skinner said.
DonateLife week ends on Sunday 9th August.
To sign-up, please visit: http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/medicare/australian-organ-donor-register
For more information on DonateLife week, visit www.donatelife.gov.au
