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Organ donors grind
out new record
New figures released by the Australia and New Zealand Organ Donation Registry (ANZOD) and the Organ and Tissue Authority show that South Australia has recorded another rise in the number of people becoming organ donors.
Minister for Health and Ageing, John Hill said 35 South Australians donated their organs and tissues for transplant in 2011, compared with 31 in 2010.
Nationally, 337 people became organ and tissue donors to more than 1,000 recipients, Mr Hill said.
He said South Australia’s contribution helped drive a national 30 per cent rise to 14.9 donors per million population from 11.3 donors per million population in 2009.
“The steady rise in our State reflects the generosity of South Australian families willing to give others a second chance at life through organ and tissue donation,” Mr Hill said.
“The Australian Government’s reform agenda has increasingly focused on raising community awareness through DonateLife.”
He said that with DonateLife Week 2012 from 19 to 26 February, there would be events across the State highlighting the need for all South Australian families to think about their donation wishes.
National Medical Director of the Organ and Tissue Authority, Jonathan Gillis said 2011 marked the second full year of implementation of the national reform agenda to increase organ and tissue donation.
“The majority of States reported increases in 2011,” Dr Gillis said, “with the most significant rises being in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland.”
Further information on DonateLife Week 2012 was available from this PS News link.
Edition 150, 26 January 2012
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