August 1, 2008 marks the 12th anniversary of National Minority Donor Awareness Day. First recognized by President Clinton in 1996, it is a national observance to raise awareness of the critical need for organ and tissue donation in the African American community. It is also an initiative to educate the community about the facts and process of how to make the decision to donate life.

Questions and Answers:

Why is it so important for African Americans to become donors?

The best match for a donation is someone from your family or a similar genetic background.  

About 35% of the people waiting for a kidney transplant in 2007 are African Americans. That represents about 25,000 people.

Overall, there are more than 27,000 African Americans on the U.S. transplant waiting list. That represents about 28% of all the people waiting for a transplant, but only 12% of African Americans are organ donors.

Even though African Americans are at higher risk for conditions like diabetes that can lead to the need for a transplant, 80% of the donors are Caucasian.

Every 13 minutes another person is added to the waiting list. Every day 18 people die waiting for a donor.

What prevents more African Americans from becoming donors?

Research shows that it is just not on their “radar screen”. There is a lack of awareness within the African American community about the dire need for donations. That’s why education is so important.

There is a misconception that they won’t have equal access to organ transplants. There is also a general mistrust of the medical system.

Some might believe their religion does not condone organ donation, but the truth is that a vast majority of organized religions in the U.S. support organ, eye, and tissue donation and see it as the gift of life.

What is the biggest need in the African Americans community?

Kidney transplants are by far the biggest need. Even though they represent 14% of the U.S. population, about 35% of the people on the kidney transplant waiting list are African American. More that 25,000 African Americans are waiting for a kidney. Some of them spend years on dialysis. Some of them die on the waiting list.

Why is there such a big need for kidneys?

African Americans have a higher risk for illnesses like diabetes and high blood pressure that can lead to kidney failure.

What is the Donor Awareness Council doing to solve the problem?

We are currently working with our board on several strategic public awareness initiatives targeting minority populations. We expect to be ready to launch those programs in the next 6-12 months. 

What can people do to help?

Donors have the power to save lives. Zero lives will be saved if you do nothing. Talk to your family about this important decision. Sign up to be a donor when you get or renew your driver’s license or find out how to register at our web site: www.coloradodonorregistry.org.

Learn more at www.donatelife.net/africanamerican/.