Organization aims to change way minority communities think about organ donation

Latoya Bembry, Special to the Sun

Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015 | 8:33 a.m.

For people such as Arlett Valencia, who is waiting for a life-saving kidney and pancreas transplant, there is no greater gift than the gift of life. Enter Nevada Donor Network, a not-for-profit organ procurement organization that coordinates, recovers and allocates lifesaving organs and healing tissues for transplantation. It also provides a strong network of support for the families who save lives through the gift of donation. While there is much work to be done to educate residents and increase the number of organ donor registrations in the state, Nevada Donor Network will be paying specific attention to potential multicultural donors in 2015. At just 40 percent, Nevada ranks a dismal 40th in the nation in the number of registered donors.

How exactly do the numbers stack up? As of December 2014, a total of 581 people are on the transplant waiting list in Nevada. More than half, 300 Nevadans waiting for that lifesaving gift, belong to a minority group. Yet, research has shown that, nationwide, Caucasians are three times more likely to register than Hispanics, African-Americans and Asians – a trend Nevada Donor Network is looking to change in 2015.

Does race or ethnicity of a donor make a difference in matching organs or tissue to an individual in need of a transplant? According to Joe Ferreira, chief executive officer and president of Nevada Donor Network, the answer is yes.

“While it is certainly true that people of different races frequently match one another, there is a higher likelihood of achieving a match if the donor and intended recipient share the same racial/ethnic background,” Ferreira said. “Compatible blood types and tissue markers are critical factors for donor/recipient matching which are more likely to be found among members of the same ethnicity. Therefore, if we can increase donor registration among minority groups we can potentially increase access to transplantation for everyone who desperately waits.”

“There are a number of factors that influence a person’s decision to not register, but for many in the minority communities, it often comes down to a general distrust in the process,” said Alma Rodriguez, multicultural outreach coordinator for Nevada Donor Network. “We’ve seen that some people are afraid doctors won’t work as hard to save their life or their loved ones if the hospital personnel know the patient is a registered donor. Some people believe organ donation is against their religious beliefs. Some fear their bodies will be disfigured. These are all myths and concerns that we have to address, and we are working tirelessly to educate and bring awareness.”

Many health conditions that lead to the need for a transplant, such as diabetes and hypertension, occur in greater numbers among multicultural populations, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at organdonor.gov. For example, the website says, African Americans, Asians and Pacific Islanders, and Latinos are three times more likely than Caucasians to suffer from end-stage renal (kidney) disease, often as the result of high blood pressure and other conditions that can damage the kidneys.

In 2015, Nevada Donor Network is launching a new Multicultural Program to meet the needs of Nevada’s diverse community. One of the first initiatives implemented under this program will be a comprehensive education and awareness campaign aimed at educating staff and customers visiting the Mexican Consulate’s Office. The program will also offer donation awareness and educational materials to Nevada Donor Network’s community and hospital partners in Spanish and Tagalog. In addition, the organization is looking to have more visibility at cultural events throughout the year, including events surrounding Juneteenth, Black History Month, Cinco de Mayo, Mexican Independence Day, Chinese New Year and Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month.

“While outreach is a year-round process, we’re looking to really amp up efforts with an annual signature community event, such as a Nevada Donor Network sponsored health and wellness fair during National Minority Donor Awareness Week in early August,” said Rodriguez.

Spreading the word about the importance of donation is important to dedicated volunteers like Valencia. She joined Nevada Donor Network’s Advocates for Life program more than a year ago, hoping to educate members of our community about the difficulties of life on the waiting list and the need for more lifesaving organ and tissue donors. Nearly two years after being told she needed a new kidney and pancreas, she still performs dialysis every night, waiting and hoping for her second chance at a happy, healthy life with her husband and son. “Every day, it gets harder. My body is getting tired; very, very tired. I’m ready for it, because I’m tired of being on dialysis. I don’t want to be on it anymore, and I’m ready to start living my life again.”

Latoya Bembry is senior account manager for the Ferraro Group.