Seventh-Day Adventist Project

1. Seventh-Day Adventist Project RAISING AWARENESS OF ORGAN DONATION AND ACHIEVING ENGAGEMENT By Sharon Platt-McDonald MSC, RHV, RM, RGN © Sharon Platt-McDonald

2. THE GIFT OF LIFE • Organ transplantation has brought about a revolution in the treatment of diseases such as end-stage kidney, heart, and liver failure. • Organs will have a better life expectancy coming from its own ethnic group. • Disseminating more widely information on the cultural risk factors for kidney disease raises awareness and equips then to make better health choices which will positively impact their life. © Sharon Platt-McDonald

3. SDA CHURCH ENGAGEMENT • 2007 - Member of Organ Taskforce working group as a representative for the Adventist church in the British Isles • Communiqué to 300+ health ministry leaders and health professionals in our churches across the British Isles • Involved our organisational presidents, executive officers, leaders and pastors to participate in evaluation of faith related Organ Donation leaflets • Liaison with our church departments e.g. Health, Communications, Youth, Education, Women Ministries, Men Ministries, Community Services, Pastoral and outreach ministries to involve them in the project © Sharon Platt-McDonald

4. SDA CHURCH ENGAGEMENT • Speaker at community events on raising awareness re Organ Donation • Reported all Organ Taskforce meetings I attended in National journals and church magazines / publications to raise awareness that this was an important issue – readership 32,000 members • Write up community events in national newspaper e.g. The Voice, re: our church input in this key area • Involved pastors and church members in focus groups meeting on National Gifting project © Sharon Platt-McDonald

5. PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS SINCE 2010 • 2010 - Focus groups : Luton, West London, Leeds and Leicester • 2010 – Video production raising awareness re Organ donation. Featured in the US on the Adventist News Network • 2011 - Hope Channel Adventist TV – ViewPoint Programme on Organ Donation panel discussion. Also featured on Revelation TV (Sept 2011) • National Posters • National Leaflet - NHSBT Organ Donation project • Health Promotion leaflet on the prevention of Kidney disease Black & Asian communities © Sharon Platt-McDonald

6. Adventist Led Presentations • Sonia Clarke Swaby - Recipient Kidney / Pancreas Transplant Coordinator – Guys & St Thomas’ Hospital NHS Foundation Trust • Mary Seacole Award – Exploring the understanding and cultural beliefs surrounding Black African Caribbean and Asian population affected with Kidney Disease in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham • An Awareness Event - 30th May 2010 for black African Caribbean and Asians • Kings College Hospital Organ Donation Committee - 6th September 2011 • Guyanese Nursing Association - 12th September 2011 • NHSBT Organ Donation Campaign • Kings College Hospital – Black History event 11th October 11 • Live interview KISAMT radio - 26th October 2011 • BBC radio London - 6th November 2011 • Ongoing events raising awareness of organ donation in the BME community © Sharon Platt-McDonald

7. INFORMATION Much stereotypical ideas and prejudices are due to lack of information • Find out what people know • Find out what people don’t know - then inform them • Use the published resources e.g. NHS UK Transplant which identifies specific faith groups and their beliefs and practice around organ donation • We need to share information on what faith groups believe in order to foster better understanding of cultural norms • We need to disseminate more widely information on the cultural risk factors for kidney disease © Sharon Platt-McDonald

8. BUILDING TRUST “The people whose lives you touch may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” — David B. Haight, • Inform the faith community of the importance of their involvement in shaping the awareness of organ donation in their community and faith group • Use specific faith / culturally targeted resources e.g. NHS UK Transplant leaflets • Include reports / testimonials of organ recipients or donors from BME background • Involve faith leaders in decision making so they feel included in the process • Invite people of faith to join the debate so their views are represented © Sharon Platt-McDonald

9. BEFRIENDING • Become acquainted with the beliefs / views of diverse faith groups • Attend their community events and show interest in their way of life • Find out what is important to them • Ask them what they feel would be helpful in reaching people from their faith or ethnic background • Involve individuals who they respect or leaders in their community to help champion the message © Sharon Platt-McDonald

10. ACHIEVING ENGAGEMENT “Everyone is trying to accomplish something big, not realizing that life is made up of little things” Frank A Clarke • Find out what people want to know • It’s easy to assume that people know where to find relevant information or have knowledge about what is available. • Make people feel that their contribution is important • Identify barriers and address them • Work with faith and community leaders so that this becomes their project which they engage in, not something they observe from the sidelines • Offer people choices – this opens up perspective and very often they make the better choice. • Keep the goal of achieving more donors as an end point but bring people along with you on the journey to the destination. © Sharon Platt-McDonald