Walking for organ donations

SOME 300 people have signed up for an Organ Donation Promotion Walk (器官捐贈推廣步行) that aims to encourage families to support the cause.

The organisers – the Hong Kong Medical Association (香港醫學會) and Hong Kong Society of Transplantation (香港移植學會) – have invited 100 primary and secondary school students to join.

Entitled ‘Spring Sowers (春耕行動)’, the walk will take place on 12 March in Sai Kung Country Park. Each participant is required to mobilise five family members or friends to register with the Centralised Organ Donation Register (中央器官捐贈登記名冊).

The event is expected to raise public awareness on organ donation and encourage people to discuss with their family about their decision on the issue.

Poor communication with family members is one of the main reasons behind the low organ donation rate in Hong Kong. Family members of registered donors may withdraw the decision if they were not informed about the intention to donate.

There has been a serious shortage of transplantable organs in Hong Kong since the 1990s, with more than 2,000 patients waiting desperately for a transplant.

Hongkongers towards organ donation need to change, said the organisers.

The younger generation should be educated on organ donation as they can persuade their parents and relatives to register for organ donation.

(This article is published on Junior Standard on 9 March 2017)

Health Department – Organ donation
http://goo.gl/O56XRg

Hong Kong organ donation mosaic
http://goo.gl/4ul1WC