Central event for the day of the organ donation

Organ donation day in Stuttgart should increase willingness to donate

09/06/2014

For over 30 years, the nationwide day of organ donation takes place. Yesterday Saturday at the central event in Stuttgart should be recruited for more willingness to donate. The day of action was under the motto: „Right. Important. vital.“

Only 28 percent of Germans have an organ donor card
Around 11,000 seriously ill people are currently waiting in Germany for a life-saving donor organ. However, the willingness to donate is steadily decreasing. Although a survey by the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) found that 68 percent of Germans agreed to donate their organs after death, only 28 percent of Germans have an organ donor card. With only about one in ten organ donations doctors and coordinators actually submit a written declaration of intent of the deceased. The nationwide day of organ donation has the goal to reach as many people as possible and to inform about the topic of organ donation and transplantation.

Central event in Stuttgart
For more than 30 years, the day of action has taken place in various cities. This year's theme was the action day „Right. Important. vital.“ committed with a central event in Stuttgart. The day of action began yesterday with an ecumenical thanksgiving service in the Cathedral of St. Eberhard. Information stands were set up in the city center and numerous actions invited people to join in. Federal Minister of Health Hermann Gröhe (CDU) and Baden-Wuerttemberg Minister of Social Affairs Katrin Altpeter (SPD), who also assumed patronage, spoke as guest speakers at the event. Even artists like Mary Roos or Laith Al-Deen wanted to advertise with live performances for more commitment to organ donation.

Politicians lead by example
Already in the run-up to the action day, Altpeter said: „Who fills out an organ donor card, creates clarity - not only for himself, but also for his relatives.“ And Minister of Health Gröhe reminded: „Three people die each day because such an organ is not found.“ The state politicians are leading by example. Thus, both the Minister and Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) and the Baden-Württemberg Interior Minister Reinhold Gall (SPD) have some years for an organ donor card.

Every organ donation can save lives
The Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) and the BZgA had already started a new campaign for more organ donations on Friday. As yesterday under the headline: „Gröhe promotes more organ donations“ reported, with the motto „I decide“ be solicited for completing an organ donor card. Since 2012, the so-called decision-making solution applies, whereby all insured persons in Germany are asked by their health insurance companies to make a decision on organ donation and to note this on an organ donor card. The Minister of Health said at the start of the campaign: „Every organ donation can save lives.“ (Ad)