It sounds like Hamiltonians have some work to do reach the 50 per cent organ donor registration rate set by the Trillium Gift of Life Network.
Hamilton’s donor rate is 36 per cent, ranking 129th in communities across the province, according to annual statistics released on Tuesday.
Burlington is a bit better, with a donor rate of 37 per cent for a ranking of 123th. However, that’s still higher than the provincial average of 31 per cent.
North Bay and Parry Sound top the list at 54 per cent.
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To date, only 18 of 170 Ontario communities have met or exceeded Trillium’s 50 per cent registration rate benchmark.
Trillium says 354 deceased organ donors (an increase of 90 per cent over the last decade), and 242 living organ donors gave the gift of life for their 2016 fiscal year, which ended on March 31.
The agency says 1,256 people received a second chance at life through transplantation — up from 1,029 in 2013.
And 2,247 tissue donors enhanced the lives of thousands through the gift of eyes, bone, skin and heart valves.
But there are still almost 1,600 patients waiting for transplants.
Trillium Gift of Life Network says it’s working to build a culture of donation in the province, one in which the majority of eligible Ontarians are registered.
Find out how your community is doing on the Trillium Gift of Life Network website.
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