Orgaandonatie & Transplantatie

On 12 October 2013, the European Day for Organ Donation (EODD) was celebrated. The need for organ transplants is increasing worldwide. There is an on-going lack of available organs and it causes an increase in the number of patients on the waiting lists in all countries.

In 2012, 61,000 people were waiting for organ donations in the European Union Member States. This means, that every day 12 people died while waiting for organ donations and a transplant.

The idea of the European Day for Organ Donation and Transplantation was initiated by the Council of Europe (CoE) in 1998. The day is about helping CoE Member States to promote organ donation and transplantation. It mobilises hospitals and professionals on the identification of potential donors and honours all organ donors and their families, as well as thanking all transplantation professionals. Their hard work helps saving lives and improving the quality of life of many people.

EU Health Programme funds the project “EFRETOS”, which makes transplants safer and more effective. Its aim is the creation of a pan-European registry on post-transplant outcome data. Currently, registries of transplantation only exist in very few EU countries (United Kingdom, France, Netherlands). Deaf persons may be included in this program, either as a donor or as a transplanted person to monitor by EFRETOS.

EUD encourages Deaf people to register and to become organ donors to help save the lives of others, Deaf or hearing. EUD also wants to emphasise the need for EUD member organisations to translate information on organ donation in their national sign languages to close the information gap that Deaf sign language users still face in a large number of areas, in particular with regards to public health information.

Further links:

European Day for Organ Donation & Transplantation in 2013:
http://www.edqm.eu/en/European-day-for-organ-donation-1223.html

Events on the European Day for Organ Donation & Transplantation 2013:
http://eodd2013.be/en

Project EFRETOS:
http://ec.europa.eu/health/highlights/2012/12/news_20121012_efretos_en.htm

Council of Europe (CoE): 
http://hub.coe.int/

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