Minorities in major need of organ donations in the US

WASHINGTON (KTRK) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports a majority of Americans waiting for life-saving organ donations are minorities.

National Minority Donor Awareness Week begins today. The observation was created 18 years ago to boost awareness for the need for more organ, eye and tissue donors, especially among minorities.

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Officials say 58 percent of Americans who are on the organ donation list are minorities, and about 70 percent of them are in need of new kidneys.

More than 30 percent of these minorities are African-American, followed by 18.7 percent Latino, and 7 percent Asian.

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Doctors say it's a good time to take a look at your health habits and see how you can take better care of yourself so you don't wind up need a donation.

To learn how you can become a donor and more on organdonor.gov.

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