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Thursday, 16
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Submitted by the Public Information Office
Niagara County Clerk Joseph A. Jastrzemski was joined by other county clerks from Western New York to recognize April “Donate Life Month” at a press event last Wednesday at Niagara Falls International Airport.
Throughout the month, those who have saved lives through the gift of a donation are honored, and efforts are made to encourage more people to register as organ, eye and tissue donors.
“I’m proud of the fact that the percentage of organ donors in Niagara County has grown over the last nine years from around 29% in 2015 to 69% today, and I know we can do even better,” Jastrzemski said. “The national average is 64%, but unfortunately, the New York state average is just at 50%, so there is work to be done.”
Jastrzemski said 85% of those who sign up to be donors in New York state do so through the Department of Motor Vehicles, and thanked the Niagara County DMV staff for its continued efforts to raise awareness. He noted all three county DMV locations (Lockport, Niagara Falls and North Tonawanda) are decorated to promote Donate Life Month.
Jastrzemski said residents can sign up to be organ donors by visiting the state registry at https://donatelife.ny.gov/, or at any of the county’s DMV offices.
“There are more than 10,000 women, men and children in New York state waiting for lifesaving organ transplants and, every eight minutes, another person is added to the national transplant waiting list,” Jastrzemski said. “The fact is that one organ, eye and tissue donor can save eight lives and enhance 75 more.”
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