Indigenous Australians face high kidney disease rates and low likelihood of transplant

• According to official figures, nearly 18% of Indigenous Australians show signs of chronic kidney disease affliction and are ten times more likely to die of kidney disease than the non-Indigenous population.
• Distance from treatment facilities and Australia’s comparatively low organ donation rate have created obstacles to treatment for affected individuals.
• Northern Territory has the highest rates of kidney disease in the country, with Indigenous Australians comprising at least 85% of the afflicted.

“There’s a lot of work and hassle being to be on the waiting list so the incentive to be on the waiting is if you actually have to believe you’re going to get a transplant. If you believe your chances of getting a transplant are very low then it’s not worth the effort.”

Read the full story at BuzzFeed News.

(Image Credit: via BuzzFeed News)