We must all promote Organ Donation and save precious lives-say religious leaders
Chandigarh 11.09.2022
A sensitization workshop organized to promote Organ donation was held by the Regional Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization (ROTTO) for the Northern Region under the aegis of the National Organ Transplant Program (NOTP), MoHFW, GOI and supported by Dr. Ashok Sharma’s Cornea Centre, Strategic Institute for Public Health Education and Research (SIPHER)and IMA Chandigarh.
Dr. Rajan Sharma from Cornea Centre hosted the event and welcomed guest speakers and religious leaders.
Dr. Rakesh Gupta, President SIPHER briefed the participants about the purpose of the event and said that, As per National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO), around 5 lakh people in India need organ donation every year. Many patients die because of the lack of availability of donors for transplants. 17 people die each day waiting for an organ transplant in the country.
Prof.Dr. Vipin Koushal, Medical Superintendent PGI MER Chandigarh told that the number of renal transplants done is around 6000 only even as annually around 1.8 lakh persons suffer from renal or kidney failure. About 10% to 15% of an estimated 2 lakh patients who die of Liver failure or Liver Cancer annually in India can be saved with a timely Liver transplant intervention. Only one thousand five hundred liver transplants are performed on an annual basis as against the need to perform about 25 to 30 thousand liver transplants annually in India. Barely 10 to 15 heart transplants are performed every year in India even as about 50,000 persons suffer from Heart failures on an annual basis. To provide a system of removal, storage, and transplantation of human organs for treatment and prevention of unethical business dealings in human organs as per a streamlined legal framework for organ donation, the Government of India introduced the Transplantation of Human Organs Act (THOA) in 1994 and that, ‘Brain Stem Death’ is recognized as a legal death in India under the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, like many other countries, which has revolutionized the concept of organ donation after death. He told about the achievements of ROTTO in the promotion of organ donation.
Dr Ashok Sharma, Cornea Centre Chandigarh briefed about the Eye/Cornea Donation and Cornea transplantation. He said that Only about 25,000 transplants are done annually in the case of Corneas against a requirement of 1 lakh. He also presented pictures of his patients who underwent Cornea transplant surgery and talked about the advancements in cornea transplant surgeries.
Mr. Vigyan Arora, a kidney and pancreas recipient shared his personal experiences with the audience.
Dr. Ramneek Sharma President, of IMA Chandigarh, told participants how IMA is contributing to Organ Donation promotion.
Dr. Monika Singh, a member of Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CCPCR), Chandigarh deliberated upon the importance of religious leaders promoting organ donation in the community.
Ms. Opinder Kaur Director of Programs Generation Saviour Association informed how her organization is motivating people for Organ Donation and urged all NGOs to do so.
The Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, and Christian religious leaders including Dr. Hafiz Mohd.Khalid Mujaddiddi, Coordinator Jama Masjid Madrasa Chandigarh, Rev Anil S Roy President, Churches Ass Mohali, Rev.Shiju Philip, Secy.Churches Ass Mohali, Father Jagdish, Advisor Tricity Churches Association Chandigarh, Pt Rajinder Prasad Arya Samaj, Dr. Jagdish Shastri, Pt Harsh Vardhan, ACHARYA NARAYAN TRIGUN participating in the workshop spoke in unison that they will ask their followers not to hesitate in donating organs in case of a mishap in their families.
Sh. Arun Verma, Director of Finance and Operations, SIPHER appreciated the work of ROTTO PGI Chandigarh,IMA, and Dr Ashok’s Cornea Centre and proposed a vote of thanks to all the speakers and participants
