Date: Fri 23-Apr-1999

Publication: Hea

Author: CAROLL

Quick Words:

Kidney-Foundation-organ-donor

Full Text:

HEALTH MONITOR: Kidney Foundation Challenges Americans During Annual Organ

Donor Campaign

WEST HARTFORD -- In an effort to ease the critical organ shortage in the US,

the National Kidney Foundation observed National Organ and Tissue Donor

Awareness Week, April 18-24, by issuing a challenge to all Americans to sign

organ donor cards.

More than 60,000 Americans -- men, women and children -- are currently

awaiting transplants of life-saving organs and the list grows longer every

hour of every day. Each month approximately 2,000 new patients are added to

the waiting list. To try to fulfill the need, the goal of the 1999 campaign is

to recruit 2,000 new organ donors each month until January 1, 2000.

"Another goal this week is to educate everyone about the life-saving power of

organ donation and to dispel the myths and misconceptions that prevent people

from signing donor cards," said Steven Grove, president of the National Kidney

Foundation of Connecticut.

Contrary to popular belief, most religions consider organ donation the

ultimate charitable gift and families are not asked to consider organ donation

until all attempts to save someone's life have been exhausted.

To participate in the challenge, call the National Kidney Foundation of

Connecticut at 800/441-1280 and request a free donor card. "Don't forget to

discuss that choice with your families," emphasized Mr Grove, "since family

consent is still necessary at the time of donation."

Ten to eleven people die each day while waiting for a life-saving organ

transplant. The National Kidney Foundation of Connecticut is committed to the

goal of ensuring that every American who needs a transplant receives one.