UK Faith Leaders to Tackle 'Donor Gap'

UK's faith leaders are supporting a campaign to tackle the growing ethnic minority 'donor gap' to dispel common myths that are known to affect donation rates, such as assumed religious objections.

The UK Transplant campaign, 'Can we count on you?' will indicate that in fact, none of the major faiths practised in the UK forbid donation.

Rev Father Olu Abiola, leader of The Council of African and Afro-Caribbean Churches, said, "Enabling life to be lived as fully as possible is consistent with the teaching of the Son of God, Jesus Christ."

The number of black and Asian people joining the donor register has increased in recent years, but the need for donated organs continues to rise. Almost 1,800 people need a transplant, and their chances of success are greater if they can be matched with a donor from the same ethnic origin.

UK Transplant campaigns and marketing manager Tamsin May said: "There is a shortage of organ donors of all ethnic backgrounds, but the problem is particularly acute among the black and south Asian communities."

While black people wait an average of 1,389 days for a kidney transplant and Asian people an average of 1,496 days, white patients wait an average of 722 days.

With black and Asian people accounting for fewer than two per cent of deceased donors, transplant patients from these communities typically wait twice as long as others for a suitable donor to become available. Last year, almost 60 black and Asian patients in the UK died while waiting.

'Can we count on you?' is backed by black and Asian celebrities such as TV comedians Curtis Walker, Nina Wadia and Gina Yashere, and actors Asif Khan and Kwame Kwei-Armah.