Launch of Organ Donor Awareness Week

Ireland has made huge strides in organ donation and transplantation since it began here 60 years ago when the first kidney transplant was performed. The official launch of Organ Donor Awareness Week 2023 (20-27 May) by the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, was held at the Mansion House, Dublin last week.

At the launch some significant milestones in transplantation in Ireland were noted, all of which were made possible by the gift of organ donation and the key campaign message was reinforced, Don’t Leave Your Loved Ones in Doubt, #LeaveNoDoubt.

Organ Donor Awareness Week 2023 will take place from May 20-27 and is organised by the Irish Kidney Association (IKA) in association with the HSE’s Organ Donation Transplant Ireland (ODTI). This year’s Organ Donor Awareness Week campaign, which coincides with European Public Health Week, is built around the theme ‘Don’t Leave Your Loved Ones in Doubt!’ #LeaveNoDoubt. The key message is that members of the public can play their part in supporting organ donation for transplantation by ensuring that their families are not left in any doubt about their wishes around organ donation. i.e., they make sure to ‘have the conversation’. Sharing your wishes when you are in good health makes it a less stressful decision for your family in the event of them being approached about you being a potential organ donor.

At the campaign launch the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly said, “Organ donation is a gift of a second chance of life. Raising awareness about the importance of organ donation is a critical part of the great effort we must make so that more people get this second chance.

“This year has set a record for the number of transplants performed in the first three months of a year with 81 transplants. As Minister for Health, I am committed to increasing organ donation and transplantation rates in Ireland and to make organ donation ‘the norm’ where possible. Enactment of the Human Tissue Bill will be an important step to achieving this.”

Minister Donnelly added: “This year’s theme for Organ Donor Awareness Week of Don’t Leave Your Loved Ones in Doubt, #LeaveNoDoubt, highlights the importance of talking to your loved ones about organ donation. This is the best way to ensure that your wishes to become an organ donor are realised. I encourage everyone to have these conversations now. While I know talking about such issues can be uncomfortable, it will make it easier for your family to make this decision at what will inevitably be a difficult and tragic time.”

Carol Moore Chief Executive, Irish Kidney Association commented: “Organ donation is a great example of active citizenship, and the Irish Kidney Association is calling on everybody to take the opportunity of Organ Donor Awareness Week to share their wishes.

“Patients on transplant waiting lists live in hope that organs will become available to them and a strong public show of support by requesting organ donor cards builds that hope. The uncertainty associated with waiting for an organ transplant is difficult as the future is unknown and there is the knowledge that in order to be given the Gift of Life another family will be grieving the loss of a loved one."

HOW TO SUPPORT CAMPAIGN

Individuals who wish to support organ donation by sharing their wishes with their loved ones and 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 requested by visiting the website www.ika.ie/get-a-donor-card or phoning the Irish Kidney Association on Tel. 01 6205306 or Free text the word DONOR to 50050