Donor RegistryNeed for Organ Donors Among Multi-Ethnic Groups At All Time High
-August 1 Marks National Minority Donor Awareness Day-
HOUSTON, TEXAS (July 8, 2010) - National Minority Donor Awareness Day (NMDAD) is celebrated annually on Aug. 1 and is a nationwide observance to educate minorities about the urgent need for donation and transplantation within the multicultural community. The designation also is a day to encourage more minorities to act on their decisions to become organ and tissue donors and to recognize those individuals who gave the gift of life.
"The goal of National Minority Donor Awareness Day is to inspire people from all multicultural groups to become donors and dispel some of the common myths about donation," said Sam Holtzman, president and CEO of LifeGift.
Of the 10,000 Texans on the waiting list, 2,117 are African-American; 4,511 are Hispanic; and 262 are Asian-Americans. The largest percentage of those minorities on waiting for kidneys since diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, are more prevalent among these multicultural populations.
"One organ donor as the ability to save up to eight lives," said Holtzman. "Knowing that you have the power to give someone else a chance to live a healthy productive life is the greatest gift of all."
Research shows that the topic of organ and tissue donation is simply not on the "radar screen" for many minorities. There is a lack of awareness within the multicultural communitities about the dire need for donations. This is why education is so important.
In addition to the lack of awareness, there are several commonly held beliefs about organ donation among minorities. These myths include:
If I'm in an accident and the hospital knows that I want to be an organ and tissue donor, the doctors will not try to save my life: The truth is that organ and tissue recovery takes place only after all efforts to save your life have been exhausted and death has been legally declared.
Donation will mutilate my body: The truth is that donated organs and tissues are removed surgically, a routine operation similar to open-heart surgery. Donation does not prevent an open-casket funeral or viewing.
I don't need to tell my family that I want to be an organ and tissue donor because I have it written in my will: The truth is that by the time your will is read, it will be too late to recover your organs and tissues.
For more information on how to register as organ and tissue donor in the official state registry, visit www.donatelifetexas.org or www.lifegift.org.
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