Members of the Hindu and Jain communities have been urged to show support for organ donation this Diwali as there is an urgent need for more Asian organ donors.
In 2018-19, there were 149 Asian organ donors in the UK; 83 were living kidney donors and 56 give the gift of life after death. But there were still 1006 people from Asian backgrounds waiting for an organ transplant.
Most Asian patients receive transplants from white donors, but in reality the best blood and tissue match is most often a donor of the same ethnic background.
Millie Banerjee, chair of NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "Every day across the UK someone dies waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant and people from BAME backgrounds wait longer than white patients for a kidney transplant, the most transplanted organ.
"Often the best match comes from a person of the same ethnicity so I would encourage
everyone this Diwali to consider organ donation and speak to their families about their decision to be a donor.”
From 2020, everyone in England and Scotland will be considered as having agreed to donate their organs when they die unless they record a decision not to donate or are in one of the excluded groups.
Hindu and Jain communities are actively involved in explaining the change in
law and have developed special videos and leaflets targeting their communities.
Lord Jitesh Gadhia, who supports the work done to encourage Hindus and Jains to
find out more about organ donation, urged members of the community to take the steps to "give the ultimate gift of life" this Diwali.
He said: “Diwali is a time to celebrate the victory of good over evil and the rise of a new dawn. This year also marks the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. His commitment to humanity is encapsulated by two powerful quotes: ‘To give pleasure to a single heart by a single act is better than a thousand heads bowing in prayer’ and ‘There are two days in the year that we cannot do anything – yesterday and tomorrow.’
"So, this Diwali, I would urge everyone to follow Gandhiji’s inspirational words and sign up today to organ donation and give the ultimate gift of life.”
