This article is from page 16 of the 2012-03-27 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
CLARE patients are now waiting up to three years for life saving organ transplants.
The Irish Kidney Association (IKA) are hopeful however that this timeline will shorten as the number of people carrying organ donor cards has started to increase.
Peggy Eustace, treasure of the Clare branch of the Irish Kidney Association said, “We had a big increase in the numbers of people opting to carry the organ donor card following last year’s campaign. There was also an increase in the numbers of transplants carried out in 2011.”
This year the IKA’s Donor Awareness Week will take place from March 31 to April 7.
“This annual life saving awareness campaign highlights to the general public the plight of people with organ failure and the on going need for organ donation,” she said.
As many as 35 patients from Clare are receiving dialysis treatment at two dialysis facilities in Limerick the Mid Western Regional hospital dialysis unit and Riverside Park on the Dock Road, while some others attend unit 7-dialysis unit in Merlin Park Galway.
A number of Clare patients are also on the home dialysis programme.
“There are almost 600 patients on the transplant pool at present some of which are from Clare. The waiting time for a kidney transplant for some is now up to three years,” said Ms Eustace.
“We are forever grateful to the donor families who, at a very difficult time for themselves, thought of those who were ill. In donating there loved ones organs they have given the gift of new life to so many.”
The Clare IKA branch members and volunteers will be promoting the donor card and fundraising for the Irish Kidney Association on Saturday, March 3, in Ennis, Kilrush and Tulla.
They will be in Shannon and Ennis again on April 7.
This year’s Clare donor week will be launched in the West County Ho- tel on March 27. Guest speakers on the night will include Dr Ahda Ali, Renal Registrar; Dialysis Nurse, Helen Kennedy and pharmacist Paul Lohan and Mike Kelly co-ordinator of counselling services at Donor House will also be in attendance.
Those wishing to help with the campaign are asked to call 087 9849004. The organ Donor Card can be obtained by free text the word DONOR to 50050, at pharmacies or doctor’s surgery.
Free Organ Donor e-cards are also available for smart phone.