Statement from the Minister of Health and Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health – National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week (April 21-27, 2024)
Abstract map of Canada
From: Health Canada
Statement - April 26, 2024 | Ottawa, ON | Health Canada
This week is National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week. There is a critical need for more donors across the country. Every year, many Canadians receive life-saving organ transplants; however thousands still wait. Lives are at stake.
As of 2022, over 3,777 Canadians are still waiting for life-saving organ transplants and many more are waiting for tissue transplants. Despite significant progress, there remains an urgent need for more donors in Canada, as our country is still unable to meet the needs of all patients waiting for an organ or tissue donation.
The Government of Canada is working together with provinces and territories, Canadian Blood Services (CBS), patients, families, clinicians, and researchers to improve the organ donation and transplantation (ODT) system. This includes supporting CBS with an annual investment of $3.58 million to enhance public and professional engagement on organ and tissue donation and transplantation. CBS aims to reach new and underrepresented audiences by developing new resources under the Leave Well 2024 platform and is also developing resources for children, youth, students, and teachers, while leveraging partnerships with programs like the Orgamites.
Read the full statement here
Find out how you too can Leave Well. Visit donateyourorgans.ca
Now’s your chance to choose to leave well so others can live well. Register to be an organ and tissue donor.
The Leave Well campaign platform is presented by Canadian Blood Services in collaboration with the national Public Education and Awareness Committee members representing organ donation organizations across Canada. It was launched during NOTDAW in 2023 and continues year-round as a prompt to Canadians to consider what it means to Leave Well.
