Message from the Health and Wellness Committee

Greetings Brothers,

I hope that this Health and Wellness communique finds the Brotherhood well as we enter the first days of spring here in the DMV. Many look forward to this time of the year, a time to leave behind the cold and doldrums of the winter months. Spring signifies new birth, a revival of sorts, the blossoming of new life as we experience the broad palette of spring colors and sweet fragrances wafting through the air.

It’s a connectedness with nature and an enjoyment and anticipation of warmer weather and longer, brighter days to come. As more and more of the population becomes vaccinated, perhaps a greater connectedness with nature and one another will ensue.

As we consider the burgeoning of springtime, I would like to highlight two significant health observances that are recognized during the month of April: National Donate Life Month and National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD).

African-Americans constitute only approximately 13% the U.S. population, however, African-Americans comprise the largest group of minorities in need of an organ transplant. This demographic comprises roughly 30% of individuals awaiting transplantation according Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health.

Due to a higher prevalence of vascular disease, such as diabetes and hypertension, African-Americans suffer a higher degree of organ failure. For African-Americans with organ failure awaiting transplantation, only a modest group, approximately 25%, actually received organ transplants in 2019. Similarly, only a small proportion of organs donors (12%) were from AfricanAmericans.

Organ donation is not a topic that is frequently discussed in our community, it is sometimes seen as one of the “taboo” areas of discussion. Similarly, discussions regarding healthcare preferences, in the circumstance of a serious illness, can be a difficult conversation to have and is one that is often avoided in the African-American community. April 16 of each year is designated as National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD). This date was intentionally chosen to recognize NHDD as it is often said that there are only two things certain in this life, taxes (April 15) and death (NHDD April 16).

If you have not taken the time to consider and to complete an advance directive (healthcare proxy, medical power-of-attorney, healthcare surrogate, resuscitation preferences) to define the extent of treatment that you would desire in an end-stage or terminal medical condition or in a situation of a persistent vegetative state, now is the time to do so. “It’s never too late, until it’s too late”.

The two healthcare observances referenced above may seem disparate in their scope, organ donation and advance care planning, however, the central theme to both relates to gifts: the gift of life through organ donation and the gift of personal responsibility through advance healthcare decision making, thus, sparing your family and friends of the onerous burden of medical decision making on your behalf.

For additional information on organ donation and advance care planning:

April is National Donate Life Month - Donate Life America

The Conversation Project - National Healthcare Decisions Day — April 16 PREPARE (prepareforyourcare.org)

Fraternally submitted,

Brother Alvin L. Reaves, III, M.D. Co-Chair Health and Wellness Committee