Saturday 10 October marked the annual European Day for Organ Donation (EODD). As noted by the European Council in their literature for the event, the need for organ transplants is increasing worldwide. It is a day about helping member states to promote organ donation and transplantation, and is also an opportunity to honour all organ donors and their families and to thank transplantation professionals throughout Europe whose hard work helps saving lives and improving the quality of life of many people.

To acknowledge the occasion here, members of the IHLTA manned a number of information stands in the Mater Hospital on Friday October 9 – the aim of which was to field questions from the general public and distribute donor cards. Reaction was overwhelmingly positive, with a high take-up of donor cards throughout the day. We also spoke with a number of inpatients, some of whom currently await a life-saving transplant.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who approached us on the day and also the members in question who very kindly gave up their time.

For further information on EODD, please see: https://www.edqm.eu/en/events/european-day-organ-donation-eodd

Pictured below are Kevin Hickey and Eoin Trill, two of the volunteers on the day.