August is National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month, when organizations spread the word about the need for more diverse organ, eye and tissue donors.
Members of multicultural communities are less likely to be registered as tissue and organ donors, which means there are fewer donors in general in areas with large multicultural populations.
Spreading the word
Raising awareness of the need is one of the goals of National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month, which runs Aug. 1-31. The month, formerly referred to as National Donor Awareness Month, aims to create positive cultures for organ, eye and tissue donation.
South Texas Blood & Tissue is one of the organizations that collects tissue from deceased donors. A single tissue donation can help more than 75 patients with a wide range of conditions. Recovered tissues are used for a wide range of therapies, including:
- Orthopedic surgery for damaged tendons
- Skin grafts for burn victims
- Heart valve replacements, especially in children
- Treatments for bone injuries
- Oral surgery
Education, registration, reducing the need
National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month is designed to provide education about organ, eye and tissue donation, encourage donor registration and family discussions about donation and promote healthy living to decrease the need for transplants.
In 2022, South Texas Blood & Tissue recovered tissues from more than 400 donors in the region. Nationally, patients receive more than 2.5 million tissue transplants every year.
Anyone can register as a donor online at the Donate Life Texas Registry, at DPS when obtaining or renewing a driver’s license or getting a Texas Hunting & Fishing License.
To learn more about tissue donation, visit us on the South Texas Blood & Tissue website.
