National Organ and Tissue Donation Week - Give a second breath to an ill person: Sign for Life!

MONTRÉAL, April 22, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - In Québec, 90% of the population claims to support organ and tissue donation, yet only 50% of people indicate their consent. Meanwhile, thousands of people waiting for transplants suffer or die as a result of a shortage of donors. For this reason, during National Organ and Tissue Donation Week, Héma-Québec reiterates the importance of signing the organ and tissue donation consent form and informing your loved ones about your decision.

Over the next five weeks, Héma-Québec will disseminate poignant testimonials from recipients and physicians on its Facebook page and its Web site. These vignettes, produced in partnership with Transplant Québec, the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec and the ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, will also be used in an advertising campaign on the Web. These testimonials are intended to provide living proof that donating organs and tissues significantly improves the quality of life of those who are ill. They are also intended to thank both the families of donors for having honoured the wishes of their loved and the medical personnel for the important role they play in the new lives of transplant recipients.

Moreover, considering the need to raise the awareness of Quebecers with respect to the importance of organ and tissue donation, the Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr. Réjean Hébert, will present a special motion to the National Assembly on April 23 to highlight the 2013 edition of National Organ and Tissue Donation Week, which runs until April 27.

Donating human tissues: giving the legacy of life
Donating tissues is an immensely generous gesture on the part of the donor and a sign of great courage on the part of their family. It is a unique gift that gives hope and health back to those who are ill or have been injured in accidents. For example:

• a heart valve donation will enable a patient's heart to function normally once again;
• a bone and tendon donation can make reconstructive surgery possible;
• a skin graft can save the life of a major burn victim;
• a cornea transplant can restore the vision of an individual dealing with a visual disability.
  
  
  

In order to make sure that your decision is respected and to make your consent official, simply sign the Consent to Organ and Tissue Donation form that is mailed with the Health Insurance Card renewal notice.

To learn more about donating human tissues, click on Human tissues on the Héma-Québec Web site at www.hema-quebec.qc.ca.

About Héma-Québec 
Héma-Québec's mission is to efficiently provide adequate quantities of safe, optimal blood components, substitutes, human tissues and cord blood to meet the needs of all Quebecers; to provide and develop expertise along with specialized and innovative services and products in the fields of transfusion medicine and human tissue transplantation.

Give blood. Give life.

SOURCE: Héma-Québec

Héma-Québec
Media Line | 514-832-0871
www.hema-quebec.qc.ca