This Year’s European Organ Donation Day Commemoration Begins in Bosnia and Herzegovina

This year’s commemoration of European Organ Donation Day in Bosnia and Herzegovina began with the raising of the #BudiDonor flag on the Friendship Building between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Greece.

The #BudiDonor – Tell Your Loved Ones! campaign is being carried out by the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Donor Network of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and their partners, with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of organ donation and strengthening trust in transplant medicine.

“Organ donation begins with an individual decision and a conversation within the family, but transplantation depends on the system. If that system fails to identify a donor, connect hospitals, and respond in a timely manner, goodwill alone is not enough. Through this campaign, we want to encourage citizens to share their decision with those closest to them, while also reminding everyone of the responsibility to build a system capable of turning that decision into an opportunity for life,” said Dubravka Bošnjak, Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Minister also thanked members of the Mountain Rescue Service of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina — Semir Šatorović, Sanjin Smrika, Haris Ramić, Mirza Nokta, Mehmed Prelić, and Emir Turić — who contributed to the launch of the campaign by raising the flag.

Organ donation is one of the most humanitarian decisions a person can make, as it offers the opportunity for a new life to people awaiting transplantation. That is why this year’s campaign places particular emphasis on talking to those closest to us about this decision and on the importance of a shared understanding of its significance.

The #BudiDonor – Tell Your Loved Ones! campaign will run until the end of this month, with the central event being the Third Conference marking European Organ Donation Day, which will be held on 14 October at the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.

The conference will bring together representatives of institutions, healthcare professionals, patient associations, and other partners to discuss ways of improving the organ donation and transplantation system in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

European Organ Donation Day provides an opportunity to further highlight the importance of solidarity, trust, and being well-informed, while also reminding citizens that conversations about organ donation should not be a subject we avoid. The #BudiDonor – Tell Your Loved Ones! campaign encourages us to do exactly that — to share our decision with those who are closest to us.