National observance strives to educate multicultural community and calls for commitment to donation

Richmond, Virginia (Black-News.com)--It’s a matter of choice. On Tuesday, August 1 as Donate Life America recognizes the 10th Annual National Minority Donor Awareness Day, African Americans across the country will be asked to exercise their choice to save a life...the life of a neighbor, a child, a friend, or even someone in their immediate family.

With over 92,000 lives hanging in the balance, and a 382% increase in the number of African Americans awaiting organ transplants since 1991, minority donors will be asked to make a difference--before it’s too late.

It’s a need of epic proportions according to Dr. Lynt Johnson, chief, Division of Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery and associate professor and vice chairman, Department of Surgery at Georgetown University Hospital.

"While African Americans say they wish to donate at least some organs or tissues, many are unaware of the dire need that exists within our community and fail to formalize their commitment to being organ and tissue donors and tell their families," said Dr. Johnson.

"Often," he continued, "the lack of organs donated by African Americans means longer waiting periods for transplants, and sometimes contributes to death.

"It’s important to realize that while African Americans make up 14% of the U.S. population, they represent 35% of those awaiting a kidney transplant. One donor can save or improve over 50 lives."

For most minorities, organ, eye, and tissue donation remains a dormant issue and a mystery until an immediate need arises.

Often, according to recent research, lack of information regarding the extreme need and lack of trust in the waitlist, transplant, and healthcare systems in general, present a major barrier to minority donation.

As of May 2006, 25,177 African Americans were registered on the U.S. transplant waiting list compared to 6,598 in 1991, a 382% increase.

While many of the conditions leading to the need for a transplant--such as diabetes--occurred with greater frequency among minority populations, 80% of U.S. donors were Caucasian.

If these attitudes and behaviors persist, thousands of people of color will suffer and may die needlessly.

This year, Donate Life America will tackle the donor crisis among African Americans and other minority groups by focusing its efforts on education.

The organization will also promote donation while tackling fear and other obstacles faced by potential donors among the country’s minority population.

In addition to concentrated radio, television and print outreach, members of the minority community will also be encouraged to visit the organization’s website at www.donatelife.net for answers to frequently asked questions and information regarding organ, eye, and tissue donation and how to designate their decision.

National Minority Donor Awareness Day is observed every August 1 to increase awareness of donation among minority populations. President Clinton first recognized the event in 1996.

Donate Life America’s outreach to the African American community has been supported by some of the nation’s leading African American organizations, including the National Medical Association, National Urban League, NAACP, National Newspaper Publishers Association and the Congressional Black Caucus Healthcare Brain-trust.

For more information on how to commit to becoming an organ and tissue donor in each state, visit www.donatelife.net or call 1-866-LETS-GIVE (1-866-538-7448).