National Minority Donor Awareness Day is observed on August 1st and focuses everyone’s attention on minority organ donors. All minorities combined only make up about 60% of the organ transplant waiting list. Why is that significant?

It’s significant because there is a greater chance of long-term survival when the patient’s genetic background is closer to that of the organ donor’s genetic background. This is a day to highlight the need for more minority organ, eye, and tissue donors, and it’s also a day to educate the public with general health care tips as well.

Facts About Minorities & Organ Donation

Below are some facts we’ve gathered about minorities and organ donation. It’s our sincere hope that these facts will help to underline the importance of more minority organ donations in the U.S.

• Approximately 30% of those waiting for an organ transplant are African American.
• About a third of patients waiting for kidney transplants are African American.
• Approximately 22% of all transplant recipients are African American.
• About 19% of patients waiting for a life-saving organ transplant are Latino or Hispanic.
• About 16% of those who have received transplants are Hispanic or Latino.
• Pacific Islanders are five times more likely than Caucasians to be on a waiting list for a transplant.
• 19% of Native Hawaiian and Asian transplant recipients received livers.
• 71% of Native Hawaiian or Asian transplant recipients have received kidneys.
• Approximately 3% of deceased donors were Pacific Islanders or Asian.

Observing National Minority Donor Awareness Day

On this day, everyone is encouraged to learn more about organ donation. It’s also a day on which people are encouraged to place themselves on organ donor lists and possibly save someone’s life. People can also spread the word about this holiday using the hashtag #NationalMinorityDonorAwarenessDay on social media.