This DonateLife Week, the Top End Health Service is encouraging Territorians to Donate Strength, Donate Hope, Donate Love and DonateLife by registering to be an organ and tissues donor today.
Half of Northern Territory residents are willing to donate their organs and tissue, but only 12% have registered their donation decision on the Australian Organ Donor Register.
According to stats from DonateLife NT, Territorians are confident their partner or family members would uphold their donation decision in the event of their death, yet only 57% of people have discussed the topic of organ donation with their families.
Dr William Majoni, Renal Physician at Royal Darwin Hospital said now is the time to have that conversation with your family and register online to ensure your loved ones are aware of your wishes.
“With around 1,400 Australians currently waitlisted for a transplant, and a further 11,000 people on dialysis, we need to optimise every donation opportunity to save more lives,” he said.
“We have a high rate of renal disease in the Northern Territory, currently we are seeing 125 people on average commencing dialysis treatment each year. The majority of these will benefit from a kidney transplant which provides the best option for the treatment of end stage renal disease.”
Dr Sarah Jones from DonateLife NT reiterated that sentiment and urged all Northern Territory residents to make their decision count, by registering their donation decision online.
“Registering your decision online is so important because it leaves your family in no doubt that you wish to be an organ and tissue donor,” she said.
“Registration counts, with 90 per cent of families agreeing to donation proceeding when their loved one is a registered donor, and it only takes two minutes to do.”
What are you waiting for, join the Australian Organ Donor Register online at donatelife.gov.au and tell your family and friends that you have registered today. It’s a decision that could one day save lives.
Media contact: Rickie Abraham
Media note: An interview opportunity is available with Dr Sarah Jones, Dr William Majoni and donor recipient Robbie Dalton at RDH tomorrow at 1pm.
Please meet in the RDH foyer.