Statement by Mary K. Wakefield, PhD, RN, Administrator, Health Resources and Services Administration on Facebook’s Organ Donor Initiative

I commend Facebook for its new initiative to increase organ donor awareness among its 900 million users. Getting the word out about the importance of organ donation is a top priority for all of us at the Department of Health and Human Services, so we appreciate Facebook’s support and the potential to expand our outreach to the Facebook community. Organ transplantation is saving and greatly improving the lives of Americans who need new organs, tissue, bone marrow and blood stem cells.  Millions have already recognized the importance of giving this gift to others.  But the need is still enormous.  Currently, more than 114,000 Americans are on the national waiting lists for organ transplants. In fact, each day in America, an average of 78 people receive an organ transplant, but another 18 on the waiting list die – nearly 7,000 people annually -- because too few organs are available.  We welcome the Facebook initiative as we continue to explore all means possible to increase donation. I urge everyone, regardless of age or medical conditions, to enroll in their state donor registry and share this decision with their family. For more information or to sign up on your state registry, please visit – www.organdonor.gov.