Launch of Organ Donor Awareness Week
Speaking at the launch of Organ Donor Awareness Week, the Chief Executive of the Irish Kidney Association, Mark Murphy, suggested that greater ties with Northern Ireland would increase organ transplants.
The opportunity to foster greater links with Northern Ireland to improve organ transplantation was proposed as a 'win win' situation for both sides of the border by Mr. Murphy. He was speaking at the national launch of Organ Donor Awareness Week 2015 by the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar., T.D. which was held at the Mansion House, Dublin on Monday 23rd March. Organ Donor Awareness Week which is organised annually by the IKA will run from March 28th to April 4th.
Read the full statement on: www.ika.ie
The Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, Td., speaking at the launch urged people to carry a donor card and to have that all important conversation with their families. "What can happen out of tragedy is the gift of life. 251 transplants were performed last year using organs from 63 deceased donors and 40 living donors", the Minister said.
Mr. Varadkar also said additional funding of almost €3 had been provided to the HSE's Organ Donation and Transplant Office, and the reconfigured National Organ Procurement Service would be fully operational next month.
Read the Minister's full statement on:
Organ Donor Awareness Week Ambassador, Mary Kennedy also spoke at the launch and met with many people who have had transplants and also those awaiting transplants.
Paddy O’Mahoney, is a retired fire brigade district officer, from Marino, in Dublin who was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in late 2010 and received a lung transplant in late 2010. Kevin Hickey is a 22 year old UCD law student from Monaghan. Diagnosed with cardiomyopathy he received a heart transplant in March 2014 at the Mater Hospital.
Chloe Kinahan from Baldoyle, Dublin with her 11 month old son Sam who has been on dialysis since he was 4 and half months old.
