Why Is It Important For Minority Populations To Donate?
The recruitment of African-Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian/Pacific Islanders and Native Americans for blood donor participation is extremely important. •Minority populations make up a larger portion of the U.S. population each year. •Blood type is an inherited trait so the best match for blood transfusions will be found in donors of the same racial, ethnic, and genetic background. •Some health risks are higher among African-Americans. Extremely rare blood types, such as U-negative, Duffy negative and Js(b) negative, only occur in African-American ancestry and may be as rare as 1 in 1,000 donors. •A greater number of African-Americans suffer from bleeding disorders and have the need for platelets. •Sickle cell anemia, cancer, heart disease and organ transplants often require blood transfusions. •We inherit our particular marrow characteristics in the same way that we inherit our eye and skin color. More marrow donations from persons sharing a common racial heritage will mean more h
