"Black patients wait 6 months longer for a kidney transplant than white patients."
This stark reality was highlighted in the NHS Blood and Transplant Annual Report on Ethnicity Differences in Organ Donation and Transplantation 2022/2023, first published in October 2023.
The NHS data shows that Black patients are waiting significantly longer for a kidney transplant than white patients. Median waits are 649 days for Black patients compared to 463 days for white patients (page 13 of the report).
In 2021/2022, median waits were 735 days for Black patients and 488 days for white patients.
While it is encouraging to see that the waiting times have reduced, there is still a long way to go.
There is an urgent need for Black African Caribbean people to donate their organs in the event of their death.
Unfortunately, nobody lives forever, and we cannot take our organs with us when we die. What we can do is leave a rich legacy and help another person live a little longer. Our organs can be used to save or transform the life of someone urgently in need.
How can you help?
Consider becoming a deceased kidney donor
Share your decision with your family
Share this blog and the work of the African Caribbean Kidney Education Enterprise™ (ACKEE) to help inform and educate others. Also find us on social media @wearetheackee
Do you have ideas on how we can promote deceased kidney donation within the Black African Caribbean community? We welcome collaboration and partnership suggestions. Reach out to us via our contact page if you believe we can work together.
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