BOSTON (WHDH) – A large crowd turned out in East Boston on Sunday to mark the Day of the Dead with a lively celebration. The festivities took place at the ICA Watershed on Marginal Street and featured dancing, face painting, and a meaningful partnership opportunity between New England Donor Services (NEDS) and the Veronica Robles Cultural Center.
Together, they paid tribute to those who have given the gift of life through organ donation while raising awareness about the vital need for organ donors.
Día de los Muertos is an annual Mexican holiday, also widely celebrated by Latino communities throughout the Americas. It is a time when families remember and welcome the souls of their deceased relatives for a joyful reunion. The holiday is traditionally observed from October 31 to November 3.
The Hispanic community is disproportionately affected by health issues that may lead to the need for an organ transplant. Currently, Hispanic individuals represent 23 percent of the national organ transplant waiting list and face the risk of death if a timely donation and transplant do not occur.
Research shows that compatible blood types and biological markers—key factors in donor matching—are more commonly found among people of the same race or ethnicity. This highlights the critical need for more Hispanic organ donors.
Although the number of Hispanic patients receiving transplants has steadily increased over the past decade, there remains a significant racial and ethnic imbalance in the donor pool.
New England Donor Services continues to work diligently to raise awareness of and address these disparities in organ donation within the Hispanic community and beyond.
https://whdh.com/news/crowd-marks-day-of-the-day-with-vibrant-celebration-in-east-boston/
