The European Day for Organ, Tissue and Cell Donation is a powerful initiative that has been raising awareness of the life-saving potential of organ, tissue and cell donation for almost 30 years. Driven by the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM) of the Council of Europe, EDD 2024 will be celebrated on 5 October, both online and in the host country Lithuania, which took over the Presidency of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers in May this year.
The EDD promotes voluntary, non-remunerated donations, honours the individuals and families behind them, and sends a message of thanks and support to the healthcare professionals who save and improve lives by making donation and transplantation a reality.
A series of events will be held in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, under the theme “Lithuania – The Capital of Organ, Tissue and Cell Donation”, including a plenary meeting of the European Committee on Organ Transplantation (CD-P-TO), the intergovernmental committee in charge of the Council of Europe’s work in the field, and an international conference entitled “Organ Donation and Transplantation: Let’s Build Bridges for Life”. Several prominent buildings will be illuminated in green, the EDD colour in 2024, including the Palais de l’Europe, the Council of Europe headquarters in Strasbourg, to raise awareness and encourage organ, tissue and cell donation, but also to put our gratitude to all donors and healthcare professionals on full display.
#OneDecision social media campaign
Join the EDQM’s #OneDecision social media campaign and reflect on the power that one decision can have. That one decision to become a donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and improve over 100 more through tissue and cell donation. Many lives are waiting for the chance that only you can give. Just take the decision to talk to your loved ones about organ, tissue and cell donation and make your wishes known. The need is great, as demand for transplants still far exceeds supply, with thousands of new patients being added to waiting lists every year.
This year, the European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT) will also join the #EuropeanDonationDay and run an online campaign in support of organ, tissue and cell donation. From 10 to 12 October 2024, ESOT will also hold an International DCD Congress & Consensus in Bucharest (Romania).
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