*****************************************************
The Centralised Organ Donation Register (CODR), which aims to encourage the public to register their wish to donate organs after death, celebrated its fifth anniversary today (November 23).
Addressing the celebration ceremony for the fifth anniversary of the launch of the CODR at the Garden of Life in Kowloon Park, the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, said the CODR had been introduced five years ago to provide an easily accessible means for individuals to voluntarily register their wish for organ donation. Carrying or keeping an organ donation card would no longer be required after registration with the CODR.
The Garden of Life was built in 2011 to give recognition to organ donors and their families for their charitable act of organ donation.
"I would like to make use of this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to all relevant institutions, organisations and individuals for their unfailing support in promoting organ donation," Dr Ko said.
"At the same time, I call on the general public to register their wish to donate organs after death on the CODR and make known your wish to your family members," Dr Ko added.
The Director of Health, Dr Constance Chan, who also officiated at the ceremony, stated that over 137,000 CODR registrations were recorded as of November 2013, in contrast to about 88,000 when celebrating the third anniversary of the CODR in 2011. Meanwhile, the total number of fans recorded in the traditional Chinese version of the "Organ Donation@HK" Facebook fanpage had surged to over 10,000. Both achievements were impressive, she said.
The CODR enables the Hospital Authority's transplant co-ordinators to affirm organ donors' wish and approach their family members at the critical moment, so that the transplant co-ordinators can arrange to carry out relevant examinations and operations in order to benefit more patients in urgent need of organ donation.
"Based on recent surveys conducted by the Department of Health (DH), over 95 per cent of respondents who were Hong Kong people aged from 18 to 64 reported that they would not object to their family members donating organs after death if they had previously expressed their willingness. Also, over 60 per cent of respondents expressed a willingness to donate their organs after death," Dr Chan remarked.
The Government will continue its efforts through promotion and education work on organ donation to encourage more people to join the league.
Other officiating guests at today's ceremony included the Chairman of the Hospital Authority, Mr Anthony Wu; the President of the Hong Kong Medical Association, Dr Tse Hung-hing; the President of the Hong Kong Society of Transplantation, Professor Chan See-ching; and the Executive Administrator of the Hong Kong Liver Foundation, Ms Doris Ho.
Members of the public may register at the CODR through Internet (www.organdonation.gov.hk), by post (21/F, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai) or by fax (2127 4926). Registration forms can also be obtained at public and private hospitals, Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Donation Centres, Health Centres of the DH, premises of Hong Kong Medical Association, tertiary academic institutions, various non-government organisations and private companies.
More information about organ donation is available at the Organ Donation thematic website (www.organdonation.gov.hk), "Organ Donation@HK" Facebook fanpage (www.organdonation.gov.hk/fanpage_eng), or through DH's 24-hour pre-recorded hotline at 2833 0111.
Ends/Saturday, November 23, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:00
NNNN
