Support World Kidney Day and sign the NHS Organ Donor Register

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is highlighting World Kidney Day (Thursday 14 March 2013) by calling for more people in Northern Ireland to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor register.

World Kidney Day was first established in 2006 to raise awareness about the importance of our kidneys in relation to our overall health, while also seeking to reduce the impact of kidney disease worldwide.

Every year an estimated 50,000 people in the UK are being treated for end stage kidney failure - 90% of those on the transplant waiting list are waiting for a new kidney and sadly there are still not enough organs available.

Dr Eddie Rooney, Chief Executive, PHA and Chair of the Northern Ireland Committee for Organ Donation and Transplantation, said: “The PHA is appealing for everyone who has not yet signed up to the NHS Organ Donor Register to please do so today to mark World Kidney Day. I cannot express enough the importance of registration. Kidney transplants have an extremely high success rate, with 94% of kidneys in living donor transplants still functioning well and 88% of kidneys form deceased donors still functioning well.”

Since 1968 there have been over 1,500 transplant operations carried out in the Belfast City Hospital (BCH). This success is based on increased awareness of the need for organ donors and a rise in the number of people signing up to the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Dr Rooney continued: “Although the number of successful transplants carried out in Northern Ireland is increasing, many more could be performed each year if more kidneys were available.

“We all have the opportunity to help others in need so please take the time to fill in a form online at www.organdonation.nhs.uk. Alternatively text save to 84118 or call the NHS Donor line on 0300 123 23 23. It is important that you discuss your wishes with friends and family so that if the time ever comes, they will find it easier to carry out your wishes.  It is one of the most generous things a human being can do to help others.”