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OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
RICHARD A. MOCCIA
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MINORITY DONOR AWARENESS DAY RECOGNIZES 10th ANNIVERSARY ON AUGUST 1, 2006
• Observance Seeks to Educate Multicultural Community and Calls for Commitment
to Donation.
• In 2006, over 25,256 African Americans are wait-listed on the U.S. transplant
waiting list compared to 6,598 in 1991, a 382% increase
Norwalk, CT -- It’s a matter of choice. On Tuesday, August 1st as the City
of Norwalk 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.
Experts contend that the lack of organs donated by African Americans means longer
waiting periods for transplants, and sometimes contributes to death. 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 some 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.
The best way to become a donor is to indicate it on your driver’s license. Connecticut license holders can go to www.donatelife.net to find out how to change their license donor designation. License holders can also make the change when they renew their licenses.
Currently, 25,256 African Americans are 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
National Minority Donor Awareness Day is observed every August 1 to increase awareness of donation among minority populations. The event was first recognized in 1996 by President Clinton. In the City of Norwalk, we are recognizing the entire month of August for Minority Donor Awareness. We are encouraging people to get informed about this important health issue.
For more information on how to commit to becoming an organ and tissue donor
visit www.donatelife.net. Call the Community Education Unit at the Yale Transplant
Center at (203) 785-2565 to request a transplant education session for your
church, business or community organization, or for your learning institution.
The educational sessions are free and we provide education materials.
POST OFFICE BOX 5125 °125 EAST AVENUE NORWALK,
CT 06856-5125
°TELEPHONE 203-854-7701 °FAX 203-854-7939
°E-MAIL rmoccia@norwalkct.org
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