Speech by Minister of State Dr Amy Khor at the Opening Ceremony of the Singhealth Transplant Awareness Week, Tue 27 Aug 2013

Speech by Minister of State Dr Amy Khor at the Opening Ceremony of the Singhealth Transplant Awareness Week, Tue 27 Aug 2013 at Academia

Prof Ivy Ng, Group CEO of SingHealth

Prof London Lucien Ooi, Director of SingHealth Transplant

Mrs Shirleen Ong, Principal of Methodist Girls’ School

Mdm Kitha Arumugam, Vice Principal of Boon Lay Garden Primary School

Distinguished Guests

Teachers and students

Good morning.

1.     It is my great pleasure to join you at the opening ceremony of SingHealth Transplant Awareness Week 2013.

2.     This is the fourth consecutive year that SingHealth has organised this outreach event to raise public awareness on organ and tissue donation and to celebrate the gift of life that transplantation brings. I am personally very heartened to see how the event has grown in depth and scale since its inception.

3.     Since 2008, about 400 patients receive a kidney, liver, heart or cornea transplant from a living or deceased donor each year. These patients wake up to find their lives changed and dramatically improved because of the generous selfless act of organ donation. They will henceforth be able to enjoy things that many of us take for granted, like sharing a moment with our loved ones, celebrating a birthday and going on a holiday, without physical agony.  

Growing Demand for Organs

4.     Unfortunately, not every patient is able to find a suitable donor in Singapore. In 2012, 22 patients succumbed to their illnesses while waiting for a suitable donor. The waiting time for a kidney transplant, for instance, is 9 years on average with more than 400 patients currently on the National Kidney Transplant waiting list. We have children as young as 6 years old on the waiting list, as well as adults across the age spectrum – from those who are in their prime to the elderly in their retirement years.

5.     The growing demand for organs to save lives is a constant reminder to do more for those whose only hope for a new lease of life is to receive a life-saving transplant. In Singapore, the Human Organ Transplant Act, HOTA for short, which was first enacted in 1987, allows for the corneas, heart, kidney and liver of all Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, 21 years and above who have not opted out, to be removed for donation upon death. Complementing HOTA is the Medical (Therapy, Education and Research) Act, MTERA for short, which enables those who wish to donate their organs and tissues to actively pledge their intention.

Engaging the Community

6.     Such legislation has helped save many lives each year. However, the number of organs donated has remained static over the past few years and the Ministry of Health is stepping up public education efforts to engage the community on issues related to HOTA and organ donation.  These efforts will build on the existing Ministry of Health’s “Live On” campaign.  The “Live On” campaign, started in 2008, has helped to create social awareness and consciousness on the acceptance of organ donation as a generous act of goodness after one’s death.

7.     Based on a study conducted by SingHealth Transplant and Republic Polytechnic with close to 2000 youths last year, the top three positive factors influencing youths between 18 to 21 years old to consider organ and tissue donation are – (1) having more information about donation and transplantation; (2) knowing what happens to a donor’s body after death and (3) family’s support for donation. The study also found that 55% of the respondents were unaware of MTERA.

Empowering the Youths

8.     Hence, I was very pleased to find out that SingHealth Transplant is reaching out to the youths through the “Thanks a Million” campaign launched in April. As part of the campaign, SingHealth Transplant and the National Organ Transplant Unit have been organising roadshows at more than 10 primary and secondary schools, junior colleges and polytechnics to educate them on the lifesaving importance of transplantation and donation.

9.     To date, the “Thanks a Million” youth campaign has reached out to more than  20,000 primary, secondary and tertiary students. Response from the schools has been most encouraging. For example, Boon Lay Garden Primary school decided that it was never too early for the students to learn about organs, and encouraged a Primary 5 class to create a short sketch about the human heart, kidneys and liver which they performed during school’s assembly so that they can share what they have learnt in a fun manner. Methodist Girls’ School, and Ang Mo Kio Secondary School also adopted “Thanks a Million” as a community involvement project. The students learnt about patients suffering from organ failure and went on to set up booths in the schools to share their knowledge with their schoolmates.

Setting a new Singapore record

10. As part of the roadshows, the students also participated in the folding of origami flowers and were encouraged to pen their thoughts related to organ and tissue donation on each flower. The target set out by SingHealth Transplant was a million flowers which would serve as a tribute to all the donors who have so generously -- and may I add, literally -- given a part of themselves to save someone’s life. It fills me with pride to announce that they have not only managed to exceed their initial target of a million but have set a new Singapore record with – let me be very exact here, because we are talking about records here -- 1,064,180 flowers!  

11. This is truly a commendable effort which would not have succeeded without the strong support from the principals, teachers, students and parents who believe in the same cause. With their support, we have enabled our youths to learn more about the lifesaving importance of organ and tissue donation. More importantly, we enable them to make informed decisions on donation when the time comes for them to make the choice. It encourages our youths to think about issues which affect the society at large and how they too, can play their part to make a difference in someone’s life. 

12. In addition to the schools, public healthcare institutions such as the Singapore General Hospital, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, National Heart Centre Singapore, Changi General Hospital, Khoo Teck Huat Hospital and Tan Tock Seng Hospital also showed their support for the campaign by folding more than 10,000 flowers. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their contributions.

13. This is indeed a good start in engaging the youths and I hope that our efforts in pushing for organ and tissue donation will not stop here.

Conclusion

14. In closing, as we celebrate the gift of life that transplant brings, let us never forget that everyone can play a part and give the ultimate gift of life to a fellow Singaporean in need.

15. Thank you.