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More than 100 bodies and organisations have taken part in the organ donation promotion campaign launched by the Government and signed the promotion charter. Pledging to support related activities, the signatories will participate in encouraging more people to accept organ donation and actively register their wish to donate organs after death in the Centralised Organ Donation Register (CODR) of the Department of Health (DH).
At the Organ Donation Promotion Charter Launching Ceremony today (June 25), the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, said the Government started inviting organisations, enterprises and schools to sign the Organ Donation Promotion Charter in May. The signatories pledge to promote the culture of organ donation first from their own self by encouraging their staff or members to register their wish to donate organs. They will further solicit support from the family members of their staff or members and help promote the culture in the community.
He hoped that through this inside-out promotional approach, the message can be spread widely making more people support and express their wish to donate organs.
Dr Ko added that many Hong Kong people agree with the concept of donating organs to help others. In the coming few months, the Government will conduct a survey on the organ donation policy and communicate with organisations which intend to cooperate with the Government to promote organ donation. It hopes to explore new publicity means and organise more events to encourage more people to turn their recognition into action with an aim to reduce the waiting time for organ transplant.
ù¾We have set a target for the campaign, that is, to double the current 200 000 registrations recorded in the CODR to 400 000 by the end of this year,óÓ he said.
In Hong Kong every year, among the deceased whose clinical conditions are fit for organ donation, half of their family members refuse to donate the organs of the deceased due to various reasons, including being uncertain about the wish of the deceased. However, organ transplant is the only hope for patients suffering from end-stage organ failure to gain a new life.
Therefore, the attitude of the public towards organ donation is one of the most important factors to increase the chances of organ transplant for patients. To minimise reluctance or hesitation of individuals and family members to donate organs, and to further step up promoting the message, the Government set up the Committee on Promotion of Organ Donation in April this year. The committee is responsible for coordinating and consolidating the relevant work by different Government departments and organisations to augment public education and publicity, so as to foster and fortify the culture of organ donation.
Members of the public can visit DH½Ês organ donation thematic website at www.organdonation.gov.hk for more information on organ donation or register their wish in DH's CODR at www.codr.gov.hk.
Ends/Saturday, June 25, 2016
Issued at HKT 20:04
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