Black and South Asian people are more than three times more likely to need an organ transplant than the rest of the population, however there is a shortage with only 1.5% of people on the Register of South Asian origin, and 0.4% of Black origin. This means that South Asian and Black people have to wait much longer for a transplant, on average twice as long as a White person.
The annual, UK-wide, awareness week runs from 9th to 15th July to increase understanding of organ donation and encourage more people to join the NHS Organ Donor Register (ODR). Hollyoaks actor, Sikander Malik added “Raising awareness of the importance of organ donation is something that I am truly passionate about, especially within the ethnic minority community where currently there is a severe shortage of donors for Black and Asian patients. It is crucial that people not only sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register and support this great cause, but also that they make their wishes known by passing this information on to their friends and family.” This year’s Transplant Week theme is ‘Pass it On’ – focusing not just on signing up to the ODR but also the importance of people talking about their wishes to family and friends so they know what they would like to happen after their death. Sally Johnson, NHS Blood and Transplant’s Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation, comments: “We hope that this year’s National Transplant Week will encourage sign up to the ODR, and encourage donors to talk to their family and friends about their donation wishes.
