Racing against time to find organ donors

(JB) More than 5,000 people signed a Passport for Life on Sunday at a special event to raise awareness about organ transplants in Luxembourg.

The credit card-sized “passports” were handed out at an all-day cycling marathon held at Luxexpo in Kirchberg.

Among those getting in the saddle were footballer Jeff Strasser, Luxembourg health minister Mars Di Bartolomeo and well-known cyclists Kim Kirchen and Benoit Joachim.

The event coincided with World Day of Organ Donation, aimed at raising awareness about the need to discuss organ donation with loved ones, thus potentially saving another person's life.

Luxembourg Transplant coordinator Jorge De Sousa explained: "Among the Eurotransplant Network of seven European countries, there are 16,000 patients per year who require an organ and only 7,500 transplants per year that take place, a rate of 46%. The shortage of organ donors is obvious. In Luxembourg, the situation is identical. There are about 65 patients a year awaiting an organ, and only 30 of them who ultimately benefit from a transplant.”

Technically all people living in Luxembourg are automatically treated as a potential organ donor, meaning if they die surgeons have the right to transplant their organs to save another person's life. However, Luxembourg Transplant will always checks that a patient approves of having their organs donated, either by checking to see if they carry a Passport for Life or by asking relatives.

With the latter case, the situation can become complicated and family rejection is the main obstacle to a substantial number of potential life-saving transplants in Luxembourg.

Mr de Sousa said: "There is a great lack of understanding by the public. People do not realise what a difference the act of organ donation can have on the lives of others. They will only realise that when they themselves or their loved one is facing a problem."