“In a few days (on 13 October 2018) the 19th European Day for Organ Donation and Transplantation (EODD) will be celebrated in Chisinau, the Republic of Moldova and across the continent.
To mark the occasion, the Croatian chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe wishes to underline the importance of this event, which is organised by the EDQM of the Council of Europe, in a different country every year since 1996.
Organ, tissues and cells transplantation is one of the great medical success stories of modern times. It is the only life-saving treatment for end-stage organ failure in many conditions. One single donor can save 8 lives through organ donation and can save or improve up to 100 lives through tissue donation.
And yet in 2017, an estimated 144,000 patients in Council of Europe member States were on waiting lists for donors.
The main objectives of the European Day for Organ Donation and Transplantation are to raise public awareness and establish trust among the general public, to engage policy-makers and the medical community, and to encourage public debate and provide information so that each person can decide on donation and make their wishes known to their family.
All this brings hope to those who are desperately waiting for a transplant.
The Croatian Chairmanship would like to call on all member States to support this cause and spread the message in favour of organ, tissue and cell donation to help improve the situation of thousands of patients”.
