The recent announcement of record breaking organ donation rates has been welcomed by Ballarat Health Services Senior Nurse for Organ and Tissue Donation, Larna Kennedy.
Ms Kennedy said that in 2011 there were 337 deceased organ donors across Australia, a 9% improvement on the previous year.
As a result 1001 life saving transplants were performed.
These rates of improvement are consistent with that of world leaders, such as Spain following their introduction of a national reform initiative.
Victorian organ donation rates continued to improve with 107 donors last year providing 309 transplant recipients with a new chance at life.
“In Victoria, there has been a dramatic increase in donation rates over the historical baseline. Prior to 2009, there were around 50 donors per year in Victoria. In 2011, 107 generous donors provided the gift of life to fellow Australians on waiting lists for transplants.
“That’s more than doubling Victoria’s donation rates.”
“These improvements show that the Federal Government reform initiative is really having an impact.” Ms Kennedy said.
“We know that there is much more to be done, but we are on the right track, and I’m doing all I can to raise awareness of organ and tissue donation here in Ballarat.
The announcement of the organ donation rates come in the lead up to DonateLife Week 2012, to be held from February 19 to 26.
Ms Kennedy said that the big event to occur locally to mark DonateLife Week would be the Walk and Talk for Organ Donation Awareness in the Botanical Gardens of Lake Wendouree on Sunday 19th February from 10am.
“I’d like to urge all residents of Ballarat to come along to the community awareness walk to support and promote organ and tissue donation.
The event will highlight the story of local resident Brent Sternberg whose story will be added to the DonateLife Book of Life. Brent, now 18, received a life saving liver transplant when he was just 3 years of age.
For more details of Ballarat’s DonateLife Week event, please contact Larna Kennedy on 0411 323 006.
Copyright 2010 Ballarat Health Services - Damian Georgiou
