Speaking in First Minister's Questions in the Assembly today, JOYCE WATSON AM welcomed the launch today of Donate Wales – Tell a Loved One, Wales' first ever campaign to increase the number of organ donations.
She said: "Many of my constituents in Mid & West Wales will join with me in backing the campaign, I am sure, and many more stand to have their lives transformed if we can increase awareness and increase the number of people who sign up for organ donation."
First Minister Rhodri Morgan agreed it was an important initiative. He had earlier launched the campaign with Health Minister Edwina Hart and Roy J. Thomas, Executive Chairman of the Kidney Wales Foundation.
Mrs Watson later added: "We need to start talking to our loved ones about our wishes to become organ donors when we die, and make sure we all join the Organ Donor Register."
The Donate Wales – Tell a Loved One campaign, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and led by the Kidney Wales Foundation, brings nine major charities together for the first time in the UK to tackle the shortage of donors, in the first organ donation campaign unique to Wales.
Speaking earlier at the launch, Health Minister Edwina Hart said:
"The Assembly Government is delighted to commit funding to this vital campaign. Discussing what happens to us and our organs after we die are things most people don’t really want to think about but it is important for people to discuss the possibility with family members. If they are aware of their loved one’s wishes, family members can find it comforting to know that some good has come from their bereavement."
Around 470 people in Wales are currently waiting for an organ transplant, but with a desperate shortage of donors many face the reality of having to wait years and the possibility they may even die while waiting.
In the last five years, more than 750 lives have been transformed by a transplant and the generosity of a donor. Sadly, in that time 150 people have died while waiting for a suitable donor organ – the equivalent of one person every fortnight.
More than 780,000 in Wales have joined the Organ Donor Register but that leaves three in four who haven’t. Many people do not talk to their loved ones about their views on organ donation, which means that families often refuse to allow organs to be donated simply because they are unaware of their wishes.
The campaign aims to get Welsh people talking about what they want to happen to their organs when they die and to encourage more people in Wales to join the Organ Donor Register.
The campaign is backed by a number of Welsh celebrities including Colin Jackson, James Hook, Connie Fisher, Radio 1’s Aled Jones, Max Boyce, Feeder’s Grant Nicholas, Sarra Elgan, Iolo Williams, Ruth Madoc and Stuart Cable. Television adverts featuring the celebrities will be screened from Friday 16 May and a multi-media advertising campaign will feature the celebrities, website, series of summer events and targeted leaflet drop.
For more information or to join the Organ Donor Register visit http://www.donatewales.org/
13th May 2008
