By writer to www.nenaghguardian.ie
Susan Towell, Lung Transplant Medical Nurse Specialist, Mater Hospital, Prof. Emer Joyce, Transplant Heart specialist, Mater Hospital, Robert McCutcheon, Chairman, Irish Coronary heart and Lung Transplant Affiliation, Tomcy Child, coronary heart transplant medical nurse specialist, coronary heart transplant recipient Niall Whiteley from Knavinstown, Kildare, and single lung transplant recipient, Gerry Fitzgerald, from Tipperary City.
Eire has made large strides in organ donation and transplantation because it started right here 60 years in the past when the primary kidney transplant was carried out. The official launch of Organ Donor Consciousness Week 2023 (20-27 Might) by the Minister for Well being Stephen Donnelly, was held on the Mansion Home, Dublin final week.
On the launch some important milestones in transplantation in Eire had been famous, all of which had been made doable by the present of organ donation and the important thing marketing campaign message was bolstered, Don’t Depart Your Cherished Ones in Doubt, #LeaveNoDoubt.
Organ Donor Consciousness Week 2023 will happen from Might 20-27 and is organised by the Irish Kidney Affiliation (IKA) in affiliation with the HSE’s Organ Donation Transplant Eire (ODTI). This 12 months’s Organ Donor Consciousness Week marketing campaign, which coincides with European Public Well being Week, is constructed across the theme ‘Don’t Depart Your Cherished Ones in Doubt!’ #LeaveNoDoubt. The important thing message is that members of the general public can play their half in supporting organ donation for transplantation by guaranteeing that their households will not be left in any doubt about their needs round organ donation. i.e., they make sure that to ‘have the dialog’. Sharing your needs when you find yourself in good well being makes it a much less demanding determination for your loved ones within the occasion of them being approached about you being a possible organ donor.
On the marketing campaign launch the Minister for Well being, Stephen Donnelly stated, “Organ donation is a present of a second probability of life. Elevating consciousness concerning the significance of organ donation is a essential a part of the nice effort we should make in order that extra folks get this second probability.
“This 12 months has set a report for the variety of transplants carried out within the first three months of a 12 months with 81 transplants. As Minister for Well being, I’m dedicated to growing organ donation and transplantation charges in Eire and to make organ donation ‘the norm’ the place doable. Enactment of the Human Tissue Invoice can be an vital step to attaining this.”
Minister Donnelly added: “This 12 months’s theme for Organ Donor Consciousness Week of Don’t Depart Your Cherished Ones in Doubt, #LeaveNoDoubt, highlights the significance of speaking to your family members about organ donation. That is one of the simplest ways to make sure that your needs to turn into an organ donor are realised. I encourage everybody to have these conversations now. Whereas I do know speaking about such points will be uncomfortable, it is going to make it simpler for your loved ones to make this determination at what is going to inevitably be a tough and tragic time.”
Carol Moore Chief Government, Irish Kidney Affiliation commented: “Organ donation is a superb instance of energetic citizenship, and the Irish Kidney Affiliation is looking on all people to take the chance of Organ Donor Consciousness Week to share their needs.
“Sufferers on transplant ready lists stay in hope that organs will turn into out there to them and a powerful public present of assist by requesting organ donor playing cards builds that hope. The uncertainty related to ready for an organ transplant is tough as the longer term is unknown and there may be the data that with a view to be given the Reward of Life one other household can be grieving the lack of a beloved one.”
HOW TO SUPPORT CAMPAIGN
People who want to assist organ donation by sharing their needs with their family members and are inspired to maintain the reminders of their determination out there by carrying the organ donor card, allowing Code 115 to be included on their driver’s licence or having the ‘digital organ donor card’ App on their smartphone. Organ Donor Playing cards will be requested by visiting the web site www.ika.ie/get-a-donor-card or phoning the Irish Kidney Affiliation on Tel. 01 6205306 or Free textual content the phrase DONOR to 50050