Published Thursday, 05 June, 2008 at 02:30 PM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
3000 SUCCESS STORIES TO CONVERGE ON GOLD COAST FOR 2009 WORLD TRANSPLANT GAMES
More than 3,000 inspirational athletes will converge on the Gold Coast is August next year for the 17th World Transplant Games.
Premier Anna Bligh, who officially launched the Games at Parliament House today, said these success stories were living proof of the quality of life that can be achieved through transplant.
“Almost 1,800 Australians are waiting for an organ transplant, 176 of them right here in Queensland and nationally, more than one person a week dies waiting.
“With such a high success rate in this country of transplant operations, it is not good enough that we are amongst the lowest rate of donors.
“And the athletes that will visit Queensland next year are perfect examples of why its not good enough.
“Each of them are recipients of life-saving organ transplants, including heart, lung, liver, bone marrow and kidney.
“The quality of life that can be achieved is an inspiration to all Queenslanders and reason enough to register as donors and importantly, to make these wishes known to loved ones.
“But as Premier, I am also committed to doing what I can from a Government perspective to see organ donation rates in Queensland increase.
“In April, I established a bipartisan Parliamentary Committee chaired by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health, Karen Struthers, to examine an opt-out scheme and identifying other ways we could improve Queensland’s rate of donation.
“I did this after the story of extraordinary Queenslander and 2020 Summit delegate Janelle Colquhoun struck me and ignited a desire to see more Queenslanders register as organ donors.
“That Committee met for the first-time last month and will meet again today, with special guest Tina Coco who is the Manager of Queenslanders Donate.
“The work of this Committee will better inform Government how we can make a real difference in increasing donor rates, and improve or save the lives of the Queenslanders waiting for a transplant,” she said.
Ms Bligh said Queensland was proud to host the 17th World Transplant Games, which will be held from 22-30 August 2009.
Media: 3224 4500 (Premier’s office)
Premier Anna Bligh, who officially launched the Games at Parliament House today, said these success stories were living proof of the quality of life that can be achieved through transplant.
“Almost 1,800 Australians are waiting for an organ transplant, 176 of them right here in Queensland and nationally, more than one person a week dies waiting.
“With such a high success rate in this country of transplant operations, it is not good enough that we are amongst the lowest rate of donors.
“And the athletes that will visit Queensland next year are perfect examples of why its not good enough.
“Each of them are recipients of life-saving organ transplants, including heart, lung, liver, bone marrow and kidney.
“The quality of life that can be achieved is an inspiration to all Queenslanders and reason enough to register as donors and importantly, to make these wishes known to loved ones.
“But as Premier, I am also committed to doing what I can from a Government perspective to see organ donation rates in Queensland increase.
“In April, I established a bipartisan Parliamentary Committee chaired by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health, Karen Struthers, to examine an opt-out scheme and identifying other ways we could improve Queensland’s rate of donation.
“I did this after the story of extraordinary Queenslander and 2020 Summit delegate Janelle Colquhoun struck me and ignited a desire to see more Queenslanders register as organ donors.
“That Committee met for the first-time last month and will meet again today, with special guest Tina Coco who is the Manager of Queenslanders Donate.
“The work of this Committee will better inform Government how we can make a real difference in increasing donor rates, and improve or save the lives of the Queenslanders waiting for a transplant,” she said.
Ms Bligh said Queensland was proud to host the 17th World Transplant Games, which will be held from 22-30 August 2009.
Media: 3224 4500 (Premier’s office)