Multicultural
Minorities make up more than half of those currently on the organ donation waiting lists.
When we come together to educate our communities, we empower each other to take action on our own behalf. We’ve all seen the effects of hypertension, diabetes, end-stage renal failure. This has affected mothers and fathers, aunts, uncles and neighbors. We’ve all known someone who suffers from these ailments. We all know they affect a disproportionate number of people in the African-American, Latino and Asian-American communities. Now is the time to do something about these life-threatening issues.
African-Americans and other minorities are three times more likely to suffer from end-stage renal disease than Caucasians. Health disparities such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity and predisposed genetic disorders contribute to diseases that affect the kidney, heart, lung, pancreas and liver.
Studies have identified five reasons for lack of donation in minority communities:
- Lack of information
- Religious misperceptions
- Distrust of healthcare providers
- Fear of premature death
- Racism
The shortage in organ donation is significant in minority communities. Donation is a personal decision that should be discussed with your family. Dispel the misconception and make A Pledge for Life.
CORE is an official Minority Organ Tissue Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP) chosen in 2010. CORE is the first new site selected by National MOTTEP since 1995. MOTTEP was founded by Dr. Clive O. Callender of Howard University. For over 18 years, this program has been faithful in its efforts to save lives through organ, tissue, blood and marrow donation.
Furthermore, MOTTEP continues to impact lives through disease prevention by providing wellness activities and screenings focused primarily on hypertension, diabetes, alcohol and substance abuse, proper nutrition and physical activity. More recently, MOTTEP has engaged communities through the use of health information technology such as community kiosks, health videos, medical appointment reminders, online consultations with nurses and more.
MOTTEP Sites
Washington, DC
Honolulu, HI
Chicago, IL/NW Indiana
New York, NY
Central North Carolina
Cleveland, OH
Nashville, TN
Richmond, VA
U. S. Virgin Islands
Pittsburgh, PA
Detroit, MI
MOTTEP is the first program of its kind in the country designed to:
- Educate minority communities on facts about organ and tissue transplantation
- Empower minority communities to develop transplant education programs that allow them to become involved in addressing the shortage of donors
- Increase minority participation in organ/tissue transplant endeavors including signing organ donor cards
- Encourage and increase family discussions related to organ and tissue donation
- Increase the number of minorities who donate organs and tissues
The mission of MOTTEP is to decrease the number and rate of ethnic minority Americans needing organ and tissue transplants. MOTTEP will achieve its mission by implementing a national information and education campaign that emphasizes both prevention and intervention strategies that result in:
- Healthier life styles and behavioral patterns
- Increased number of minority donors and transplant recipients
- Increased number of family discussions regarding family medical history and organ/tissue transplants
- Increased number of minority donor pledges
CORE MOTTEP actively promotes positive health behaviors through public education by focusing on diseases and behaviors that lead to the need for transplantation in minority communities, such as diabetes, hypertension, alcohol and substance abuse, poor nutrition, obesity and lack of physical activity. This includes health education in the community at-large, in the faith based community, in primary care health centers, and at universities and colleges.
National Minority Donor Awareness Month
National Minority Donor Awareness Month runs through August and works to increase awareness of minority donors and the facts surrounding organ, blood and tissue donation. The month is used to promote healthy living and disease prevention in order to decrease the need for transplants.
Contact CORE at 800-DONORS-7 (800-366-6777) for more information.
