Ulster Unionist MLA’s Jo-Anne Dobson and Robin Swann meeting with little Joe Lamont and his mum Sarah at Stormont recently. Joe, who needs liver and kidney transplants is encouraging people to support the #spellitout campaign.
Supporting Transplant Awareness Week, which runs from 7 to 13 July, Ulster Unionist MLA Jo-Anne Dobson has once again highlighted the need for public support for organ donation.
The MLA, who is a long-term campaigner for life-saving transplants, has urged people to take the opportunity to ‘spell out’ their wishes when it comes to organ donation.
Mrs Dobson said:
“Never before has the need for life-saving transplants been greater and brave little Joe Lamont who needs a liver and kidney transplant is just one of countless examples.
“I was delighted to meet little Joe and his mum Sarah at Stormont recently. He is a wee fighter and it is for Joe and others like him, young and old, that I am fully committed to modernising our organ donation laws in Northern Ireland.
“As the mother of a transplant patient I know what it is like to have an ill child, and then to see the wonderful transformation which organ donation brought to his life. I want everyone to have the chance of a new life which my son Mark received.
“Telling your family your wishes is the best way to ensure that they are honoured. We know that families are much more likely to agree to donation going ahead if they know it is what their loved one wanted.
“I am pressing ahead with my Private Members Bill at Stormont to change local organ donation laws – a change which will increase the number of life-saving donations. The plain fact remains that on average 15 local people die every year waiting on a transplant – this cannot be allowed to continue and with 160 local people currently waiting on a transplant a change in the law is the best way to help them.”
Dr Eddie Rooney, Chief Executive of the PHA and Chair of the Northern Ireland Committee for Organ Donation, said: “The health service will continue to work hard to improve rates of donation but can only do so with the commitment and generosity of the people of Northern Ireland.
“Despite support for organ donation being extremely high here, not enough people are aware of the organ donor register and as a result the number of people who have signed it is quite low at just 32% of the population. Most importantly, we need everyone to discuss their wishes with their loved ones –only 38% of people in Northern Ireland said that they have done this.
"We need to change these figures – there are still around 160 people waiting for a transplant and around 15 people die in Northern Ireland each year whilst waiting on one.
“If you have signed the register, you can also help us to spread the message on Twitter and Facebook by using the hashtag #spellitout to encourage others to do the same.”
If you haven’t already signed the register or would like more information, please take the time to visit www.organdonationni.info which is packed full of information and resources.