All cultures urged to register for ‘gift of life’
Councillor Steve Tuntevski said: “This need came to my attention after a terminally ill relative who is battling multiple myeloma, asked me in a last ditch attempt to undergo a compatibility test for bone marrow transplant, sadly I’m not a match.
“It’s devastating, she is in her 40s and a mother of three, the youngest being just seven years of age, I wish I could help.”
Cr Tuntevski said he was bewildered the Liberal State Government abolished the option to register as an organ donor through drivers licences.
“It makes no sense, we need to lift donor rates, it saves lives.”
Only one in three Australians have joined the Australian Organ Donor Register, even though 81 per cent believe registering donation decisions is important.
According to the Australian Organ Donor Register, out of 373,931 residents, only 99,214 people living in Canterbury-Bankstown have registered as organ donors.
Cr Tuntevski added: “All of the major religions support organ donation and families of the deceased almost always say yes to organ donation when their loved one had previously registered or told their family they wanted to be a donor. That’s why it is so important to register.”
Register online at the myGov Medicare portal or go to donatelife.gov.au
