Organ donations an issue for multicultural Australia

Health Reporter, Australia

Australia’s multicultural diversity represents a major hurdle in bringing Australia’s rate of organ and tissue donation to world standard, according to Transplant Australia.

However grassroots community-driven campaigns and testimonials from those Australians with multicultural backgrounds will help break down traditional misunderstanding about donation.

According to the Australia and New Zealand Organ Donation Registry, four per cent of organ donors over the past six years were Australians with an Asian family heritage.

“Yet our research shows 16 per cent of those waiting for a kidney transplant have a family background from Asia according to Transplant Australia CEO, Chris Thomas.

“More and more people with multicultural backgrounds are now on our waiting lists but we all need to understand that we are much more likely to receive a transplant, especially a kidney, if someone from our genetic background or genetic pool is donating. This is simply because of tissue typing and compatibility issues.”
Read More: http://www.healthreporter.com.au/featured-news/2012/02/02/organ-donations-an-issue-for-multicultural-australia/