This was a 4-hour workshop to inform and educate Latino patients about the process of getting a kidney transplant was held on Saturday, September 8th, 2018. In Oregon, 87% of all Latinos waiting for an organ transplant are waiting for a kidney. Latinos are three times more likely than White Americans to suffer from conditions leading to organ, and especially kidney failure, due to higher rates of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.
Our event consisted of a presentations about the different stages of kidney disease and the options available for treatment. The presentation was led by Familias en Acción and Donate Life NW Staff. Additionally, we had a panel of health professionals from OHSU and Legacy answering questions related to a kidney transplant. A second panel of insurance experts answered questions related to insurance. Our last panel included a patient going through the transplant process, a donor and a current recipient of a kidney.
The event goal was to educate current Latino dialysis patients and community members that a kidney transplant is an option. The workshop was held for free; food and childcare were available.
