Residents on the Bellarine Peninsula are being encouraged to sign up as organ donors in a bid to tackle donation waitlist times.
There are currently more than 1850 people on the transplant waiting list and just one donor can help 10 people.
“The best chance we have to address the challenge of the longer waitlist is to have more Australians say “yes” to donation – both yes to registering and yes in the hospital if there is the opportunity to donate,” Organ and Tissue Authority Minister David Gillespie said.
The strain COVID-19 has placed on the healthcare system has caused a nine percent decrease in the number of organ donors and a seven per cent decrease in the amount of people who received a transplant.
In the last year, 200 people received a kidney from a living donor, more than 2,400 Australians had their eyesight restored through a corneal transplant and over 10,000 people received tissue transplants.
“I would like to acknowledge all donors and express heartfelt thanks to families who say “yes” to organ donation and give the gift of life to others,” Dr Gillespie said.
To register to be an organ and tissue donor, visit www.donatelife.gov.au or join using the Express Plus Medicare app.
