Organ Donation Day 2023 celebration held today (with photos)
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Speaking at the event, the Acting Secretary for Health, Dr Libby Lee, said that since 2016, the Government has designated the second Saturday of every November as Organ Donation Day and the anniversary of the launching of the Centralised Organ Donation Register (CODR) with a view to promoting organ donations and inculcating a positive culture of supporting organ donations in Hong Kong.
"Despite rapid advancements in healthcare technologies, organ transplant remains the only hope for many patients with organ failure to live on. Currently, more than 2 000 patients are waiting for organ transplants in Hong Kong. To shorten patients' waiting time for organ transplants and to bring new life to them, active support for organ donations by members of the public is critically important," Dr Lee said.
Over 363 000 registrations have been recorded in the CODR. Dr Lee encouraged members of the public to turn their thoughts into action by registering in the CODR, so as to bring more hope to patients waiting for organ transplants.
The DH has all along been making every effort in promoting organ donations. The DH enhanced the CODR system this year to facilitate public registration and to enable members of the public to learn about their application results and check their registration status more conveniently. The DH has also stepped up promotion activities since June this year, including setting up promotion booths at Government premises and in the 18 districts in Hong Kong, launching the organ donation promotion vehicle and a new television announcement in the public interest. Representatives from six religious groups and representatives of ethnic minorities were also invited to participate in the production of videos to call on the public to support organ donations.
Previous Thematic Household Surveys revealed that of the respondents who were not willing to donate organs after death, the majority cited that the reason was that they "would like to keep body intact". Regarding this traditional belief, representatives from six religious groups unanimously stated that organ donation does not violate their religious doctrines and called on their believers to actively support organ donations.
The DH also expressed special gratitude to institutions and organisations which have been striving to promote organ donations over the years, and called on different sectors in society to continue their collaboration with the DH in spreading the spirit of benevolence of organ donations to every corner of society.
Organ Donation Day 2023 Ambassadors Ms Michelle Siu and Mr Cheung Siu-lun shared their views on supporting organ donations at the event. Other guests, including an Organ Donation Coordinator, a family member of an organ donor, and an organ recipient, also spoke on their experiences to convey to the public the message that organ donation not only helps patients in need but also brings hope to their families.
All lives are priceless. Expression of the wish to donate organs by members of the public through registering in the CODR (www.codr.gov.hk) carries great significance to patients awaiting organ donations and their families. For more information on organ donations, please visit the thematic website at www.organdonation.gov.hk or the "Organ Donation at HK" Facebook page at www.facebook.com/organdonationhk.
Ends/Saturday, November 11, 2023
Issued at HKT 17:00
Issued at HKT 17:00
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