site.btaBulgaria Marks European Day for Organ Donation and Transplantation

Sofia, October 9 (BTA) - On Saturday Bulgaria marks the European Day for Organ Donation and Transplantation, the Health Ministry said, adding that the day has been celebrated since 1996 on the second Saturday of October. This year the motto of the initiative is "Just Say Yes!" with the aim to provide more citizens with information on the meaning and significance of donation and transplantation.

In solidarity with the Council of Europe's initiative to hold a European Day for Organ Donation and Transplantation, and to raise citizens' awareness, the facade of the National Palace of Culture in Sofia will be illuminated in green from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., the colour associated with donation and transplantation. The Boris Hristov House of Culture in Plovdiv, the Tsarevets Fortress in Veliko Tarnovo, the Burgas University Hospital and the fountains in the centre of Panagyurishte will also be illuminated in green. Volunteers of the Bulgarian Red Cross Youth will distribute information brochures and flyers on the topic in downtown Sofia, Plovdiv, and Panagyurishte.

A total of 1,016 Bulgarian citizens are waiting for an organ transplant in Bulgaria. This year, 11 donor situations have been successfully handled in this country from brain-dead donors. A second chance was given to 43 people in need of an organ transplant. From the beginning of the year until October 1, 14 transplants were performed from living donors, and 29 from cadaveric donation.

One brain-dead person can save 8 lives through organ donation and improve the lives of up to 100 people through tissue donation, according to the Health Ministry.

DS/MT