THE key message of this year’s Organ Donor Awareness Week is “Share Your Wishes,” and let loved ones know you want to donate.
Organ Donation Transplant Ireland (ODTI) Clinical Lead Dr Catherine Motherway explained that Organ Donor Awareness Week is a time when we honour and thank all donors both living and deceased, who, by their actions have given the gift of life to others.
Dr Motorway, who is a Consultant in Intensive Care and Anaesthesia at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), said that those who work in intensive care and transplantation are humbled by the generosity of organ donors and their families.
“The generosity of organ donors is the bedrock of our transplant programmes. Organ donation saves and transforms the lives of our transplant recipients. This week in particular we encourage our community to speak to each other about their wishes around organ donation.”
Organ Donor Awareness Week, which is organised by the Irish Kidney Association (IKA) in association with Organ Donation Transplant Ireland (ODTI), will take place from this Saturday, April 23 until April 30.
Individuals who wish to support organ donation are encouraged to keep the reminders of their decision available by carrying the organ donor card, permitting Code 115 to be included on their driver’s licence or having the ‘digital organ donor card’ app on their smartphone.
Organ Donor Cards can be ordered from the IKA website www.ika.ie/get-a-donor-card
