Nora O’Malley
Westerly News
Back in the beginning of October, the Kidney Foundation of Canada, BC & Yukon Branch honoured Ucluelet Service BC centre staff with a special Community Leadership Award for their dedication and support of organ donation.
The government workers, stationed at 1636 Peninsula Road just across from the Ukee Post Office, were recognized for all their positive work in helping West Coast residents to register a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ decision regarding organ donation.
“The big discrepancy is the between the number of people who think they are registered and the number who are actually registered,” notes Area Services Manager Jim Edgar.
He said the main reason for the confusion is due to the fact that the government recently switched to a new online system of organ donation registration. Previously, people used to register by putting a sticker on their driver license.
“Approximately 90 per cent of British Columbians support the concept of organ donation, but currently less than 20 per cent are actually registered,” he said.
Provincially, the B.C. government has received about 20,000 new registrations over the past six months. 24 of those registrations came from Ucluelet.
To register your decision online, visit: www.transplant.bc.ca/be-donor. All you need is a valid BC Care Card (personal health) number.
Or, if you’d prefer human connection, swing by the Service BC office and register in person.
“Brigitte will set you up,” said Edgar.
Office hours are Monday to Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
nora.omalley@westerlynews.ca
