Written by Nicole Lazarus
PASSIONATE: Sonia Clarke-Swaby, (right) seen here receiving an award for her work on black organ donors from MP Ann Milton
BLACK AND minority ethnic (BME) motorists will now have to answer questions about organ donation when they apply for drivers’ licences.
The requirements follow the launch of a new recruitment campaign aimed at getting more black people interested in becoming organ donors.
Recent statistics show that only one per cent of Caribbean, African and Asian people are registered as organ donors.
As of last week (August 1), prospective drivers are required to answer questions about organ donation when they apply for a driving licence, through the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) website.
Statistics show that African Caribbeans and members of other minority ethnic communities are three more times likely to need an organ transplant than the rest of the population as they are at greater risk of diabetes and high blood pressure which can lead to kidney and heart failure.
However, they have to wait three times longer than the rest of the population for an organ transplant. Around 2,500 people from black and Asian communities are currently waiting for a transplant.
And an award winning 2009 study of BME attitudes to organ donation revealed that a shocking 30 per cent of participants polled said they did not know anything about organ donation.
The study, conducted by Sonia Clarke-Swaby, kidney transplant coordinator at Kings College Hospital in London, showed an additional 35 per cent of respondents said there was a greater need for more Government input to increase awareness.
The study called Understanding the Cultural Beliefs surrounding organ donation in the African, Caribbean and Asian Population, found that of those who were interested in becoming donors, 20 per cent had no knowledge of how to go about doing it.
Swaby, who won a Mary Seacole Development Award in 2010 for the study, told The Voice: “Based on my study, people within our communities …feel invalid and (are) left with no voice because of the lack of information available.”
She said “….more events that make people aware (of the need to donate) are needed. Events that have different people talking about those at risk of kidney disease and the whole process of how to become a donor will help. It’s my passion and something I love to do.”
BLACK AND minority ethnic (BME) motorists will now have to answer questions about organ donation when they apply for drivers’ licences.
The requirements follow the launch of a new recruitment campaign aimed at getting more black people interested in becoming organ donors.
Recent statistics show that only one per cent of Caribbean, African and Asian people are registered as organ donors.
As of last week (August 1), prospective drivers are required to answer questions about organ donation when they apply for a driving licence, through the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) website.
Statistics show that African Caribbeans and members of other minority ethnic communities are three more times likely to need an organ transplant than the rest of the population as they are at greater risk of diabetes and high blood pressure which can lead to kidney and heart failure.
However, they have to wait three times longer than the rest of the population for an organ transplant. Around 2,500 people from black and Asian communities are currently waiting for a transplant.
And an award winning 2009 study of BME attitudes to organ donation revealed that a shocking 30 per cent of participants polled said they did not know anything about organ donation.
The study, conducted by Sonia Clarke-Swaby, kidney transplant coordinator at Kings College Hospital in London, showed an additional 35 per cent of respondents said there was a greater need for more Government input to increase awareness.
The study called Understanding the Cultural Beliefs surrounding organ donation in the African, Caribbean and Asian Population, found that of those who were interested in becoming donors, 20 per cent had no knowledge of how to go about doing it.
Swaby, who won a Mary Seacole Development Award in 2010 for the study, told The Voice: “Based on my study, people within our communities …feel invalid and (are) left with no voice because of the lack of information available.”
She said “….more events that make people aware (of the need to donate) are needed. Events that have different people talking about those at risk of kidney disease and the whole process of how to become a donor will help. It’s my passion and something I love to do.”
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