Niagara Health is being recognized by Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network) for its outstanding organ and tissue donation efforts in 2022/23. For the fourth time, Niagara Health has received the Hospital Achievement Award – Provincial Conversion Rate for reaching a conversion rate exceeding the target of 63 per cent set by the provincial network. The conversion rate is the percentage of potential organ donors who went on to become actual donors. In 2022/2023, Niagara Health supported 16 organ donors, which led to 41 organs donated for transplant, saving 37 lives. Additionally, there were 97 tissue donors, enhancing the lives of many others. Today, there are nearly 1,400 Ontarians in need of a life-saving organ transplant and thousands more who are in need of life-restoring tissue transplants. Tragically, every three days someone will die waiting for an organ, while those awaiting valuable tissue will continue to experience a lower quality of life. One organ donor can save up to eight lives and enhance the lives of up to 75 others through tissue donation. For example, eyes can restore sight; skin can help patients heal from burns; bones can be used for joint replacements; heart valves can help with congenital heart disease; and tendons and ligaments can help recipients walk and run. Live organ donors, such as for kidneys, do not need to know the person they are donating to.
While 90 per cent of Ontarians support organ donation, only 35 per cent register, which takes two minutes at BeaDonor.ca. Join the four million other Ontarians who have registered to donate, and speak with your family about your wishes.
