Join us this Commonwealth Day as we launch a new project to save more lives
Today is Commonwealth Day, and we are excited to be officially launching our Commonwealth Tribute to Life project.
We'll be hosting a livestream launch event on our Organ Donation YouTube channel to celebrate.
Join us from 11am GMT to hear the incredible and inspiring real-life stories of people whose lives have been changed by organ donors, and to mark the start of an ambitious and exciting project.
About the project
The Tribute to Life project offers a unique opportunity to highlight the ongoing need to increase levels of organ and tissue donation and transplantation across the world.
The project brings together the Commonwealth nations, sharing expertise within organ donation and transplantation, with the aim of saving more lives.
During today’s livestream you will hear speakers across the Commonwealth highlight the challenges they face within their organ donation system and the many opportunities this project will bring.
The launch event will be streamed live from Wolverhampton where the NHS Organ Donor Register was first created.
Levels of organ failure and the need for transplantation remain high in all nations, with this launch event an important step on the road towards saving and improving more lives around the world.
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid MP, is formally launching the project.
He said: “The Commonwealth Tribute to Life is the culmination of three years of dedicated work by NHS Blood and Transplant, Dr Dale Gardiner and Dr Satya Sharma MBE DL and I’m delighted to launch this initiative.
“Through sharing knowledge and awareness around organ and tissue donation and transplantation, Commonwealth nations can work together to save and transform the lives of thousands of patients.
“As part of this we want people from all communities, but especially those from ethnic minority backgrounds, to discuss organ donation and make the life-saving choice to become a donor.
Dr Satya Sharma MBE, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands has Chaired the project. He said: “The 2022 Commonwealth Games are committed to bringing people together and celebrating the diversity of both the West Midlands and the Commonwealth.”
Dale Gardiner, Associate Medical Director - Deceased Organ Donation at NHS Blood and Transplant, says: “As the world comes together, we will be showcasing the importance of organ and tissue donation. This Memorandum of Understanding can save and improve lives across the world.
“For those of you in the UK, we need you to talk to your family and tell them your organ donation decision - leave them certain of it.”
