Thousands of people die every year waiting for an organ transplant. But those numbers may fall dramatically if Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has anything to do with it.
According to announcement Tuesday from the social networking giant, Facebook wants to make it easier for its nearly 1 billion members to sign up to become organ donors.
“What we hope will happen is that by just having this simple tool, we think that people can really help spread awareness of organ donation and that they want to participate in this to their friends,” Zuckerberg tells ABC News. “That can be a big part of helping solve the crisis that’s out there.”
“Today, more than 114,000 people in the United States, and millions more around the globe, are waiting for the heart, kidney or liver transplant that will save their lives,” say Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg in a joint statement issued this morning. “Many of those people – an average of 18 people per day – will die waiting, because there simply aren’t enough organ donors to meet the need. Medical experts believe that broader awareness about organ donation could go a long way toward solving this crisis. And we believe that by simply telling people that you’re an organ donor, the power of sharing and connection can play an important role.”
“Starting today,” the statement adds, “you can add that you’re an organ donor to your timeline, and share your story about when, where or why you decided to become a donor. If you’re not already registered with your state or national registry and want to be, you’ll find a link to the official donor registry there as well.”
Do you think Facebook can help save lives through this effort? Please weigh in with a thought or comment below.
And to learn more about Facebook’s laudable enterprise, click here.
