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Donating an organ may not be your
typical dinner table conversation, but Organ Donation New
Zealand and Kidney Health New Zealand are hoping to change
that.
March is National Kidney Month, and Organ
Donation New Zealand together with Kidney Health New Zealand
have joined forces to help raise awareness about the
importance of kidney donation and encourage more New
Zealanders to have a conversation about organ
donation.
There are two types of kidney donation in
New Zealand – Organ Donation New Zealand is the service
responsible for deceased organ and tissue donation across
Aotearoa, while Kidney Health New Zealand helps support live
kidney donations.
Donor Coordinator for Organ Donation
New Zealand, Sue Garland, says that whether you’re
considering live donation or wanting to ensure that your
organ donation wishes are considered after you die, it’s
really important to talk about it with your loved
ones.
Organ donation that occurs after someone has
died is only possible in a small proportion of all deaths in
New Zealand. However, when donation can occur, one
donor has the potential to help up to ten people
through the donation of organs and tissues.
“Our
team at Organ Donation New Zealand are in awe of the
graciousness and generosity of grieving whānau who consider
the option of organ and tissue donation for a relative who
is dying or who has died,” continues Sue.
“Their
decision to donate organs and tissue saves and changes
lives. In 2022 there were 63 organ donors. This resulted in
122 kidneys donated for the purpose of transplantation,
which included four kidneys that were transplanted in
combination with a pancreas.
“Many of these
recipients who receive a transplant are on dialysis and
leading lifestyles significantly impacted by their kidney
disease. A person who receives a combined kidney and
pancreas transplant is often younger with type one diabetes
and kidney failure.
“As a donor coordinator it is a
privilege to share with the donor family the impact the
donation has had on grateful recipients. I recently spoke
with a donor whānau and they expressed comfort in knowing
their whānau member had made such a difference to other
people’s lives.
Anna Maharaj had been on the donor
waiting list for three years and was just 21 when she was
offered a second chance at life.
“Unless you know
someone who has received an organ then you probably aren’t
talking about it,” says Anna.
“I felt extremely
grateful to receive that phone call to say a kidney was
available and a match. My new kidney is my lifeline –
it’s given me 21 more years of life.
“I’ll be
championing the cause and encouraging people to have the
conversation for the rest of my life.”
Traci
Stanbury, Acting General Manager of Kidney Health New
Zealand, says organ donation is an invaluable act of
kindness that can transform lives.
“People often
assume that you can only donate a kidney following death but
providing you and both your kidneys are in good health, you
may be able to become a living donor and donate to someone
in need. Whether it’s for a family member, friend or
stranger – donating a kidney is an enormous decision and a
true act of altruism.”
March is National Kidney Month
with World Kidney Day being celebrated on March
9th.
There is no better time than right now to spark a
conversation about organ donation and the impact that this
could have on someone dependent on kidney dialysis or in
need of a transplant.
Fast Facts
· There are
approximately 600 people on the kidney donation waiting list
in New Zealand
· Last year, 63 people donated
organs following death. This resulted in 122 kidneys donated
for the purpose of transplantation.
· There were
approximately 70 live kidney donations in 2022.
About
Organ Donation New Zealand (ODNZ)
The National Office
of Transplant Donor Coordination, as it was originally
called, was established in 1987. It became Organ Donation
New Zealand (ODNZ) in 2005.
In 2019, the statuary
functions of organ donation were transferred to the New
Zealand Blood Service and the ODNZ was integrated into its
national organisation.
ODNZ provides a 24-hour, 7-days
a week, clinical service for deceased organ and tissue
donation to health professionals in hospitals throughout New
Zealand. It works with those health professionals to ensure
that processes for deceased donation are nationally
consistent and meet the highest medical, ethical and legal
standards.
ODNZ coordinates the process of donation
which provides organs and tissues to transplant units in New
Zealand and Australia and tissue banks in New Zealand. It
also provides on-going support for donor families, education
and training for healthcare professionals and accurate
factual information to the public.
About Kidney
Health New Zealand
Founded in 1979 as a non-profit
organisation, Kidney Health New Zealand relies on public
contributions for support. The role is to:
· Provide
education and support in the recognition of the symptoms of
kidney disease.
· Provide resource information
concerning the treatment and management of patients with
kidney disease.
· To coordinate, advocate for and
where possible, fund research into the prevention, early
detection and cure of kidney disease.
· To promote
the donation of kidneys and other organs and tissue for
transplantation.
· Liaise with and support patient
Support Groups
For more information about live kidney
donation visit www.kidney.health.nz
or call 0800 LIVE DONOR – 0800 5483
36667
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