People have been called on to sign up to the donor register during the ongoing Transplant Awareness Week.
The call comes from Derry Sinn Fein MLA, Maeve McLaughlin, the chairperson of the Stormont Health Committee.
Ms. McLaughlin said there were over 200 people in the North waiting on a life saving organ transplant, many on whom would die if they don’t receive a donated organ.
She said the more people who signed up to the donor register the greater number of people who would regain a better quality of life.
She added: “The organs of one person can help up to seven people survive to lead a more normal life so it is important that we need to increase the number of people on the register.
“Transplant Awareness Week can remind people about transplantation and be used to encourage more people to sign up to the donor register.
“The fact that you are more likely to need to receive an organ donation than becoming a donor needs to be reinforced as it could be you someday who is in need of an organ.
“I would appeal to people to sign up to the Donor Register in one of the many ways available.”
Ms McLaughlin concluded: “I would also encourage people to talk to their family and outline their preference for donation so that the burden is taken off the next of kin in case of a tragedy.”
You can join the register by phone, post, e–mail and now through Facebook.
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