Program Educates Blacks On Organ Donation

GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Blacks make up 12 percent of the population, but account for 35 percent of the people waiting for kidney transplants.

For many organs, only the blood type needs to match between the donor and recipient. When it comes to kidneys, blacks need to receive them from other blacks. Now, there's an effort to get more blacks to sign up as donors.

Jonas Brown has been waiting for a kidney for nine years. Dialysis has kept him alive.

"This machine is my friend. This machine is my life," he said.

Brown said he wouldn't have to spend 12 hours a week on a machine if more blacks were organ donors.

"We're dying because we have folks that are taking those parts on to the grave and heaven knows we need them here. We need 'em here," he said.

College student Darryel Washington has volunteered to educate young blacks about organ donation. His work is part of a federally funded public awareness program. Diane Washington said the goal is to increase the number of black donors.

"I always tell people it's not that African-Americans don't want to donate, it's that nobody has taken the time to educate us about the process," said Diane, the community relations coordinator of Carolina Donor Services in Greenville.

Darryel says myths and fear keep many of his peers from donating.

"Why should I give my organs to someone that I don't know? Or if I give my organs, are the people that actually need it going to get it?" he said.

The program, designed by the University of Rhode Island, is being tested at historically black colleges and universities in North Carolina.

"We're really looking for a national program to go to all of the historically black colleges and universities," Diane said.

Darryel tells fellow students to try to walk in the shoes of people who need an organ -- people like Brown.

"We need those organs. We need 'em," Brown said.

The process for becoming an organ donor varies from state to state. If you're interested in becoming a donor, contact your nearest organ procurement organization to find out how to sign up. Also, it's not enough to register as an organ donor. You also need to let your family know you want to be a donor as they will be the ones who make the decision if you pass away.

If you would like more information, please contact:

Carolina Donor Services
3622 Lyckan Parkway
Suite 6002
Durham, NC 27707
(800) 200-2672
http://www.carolina.donorservices.org

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