Be a Hero, Be a Organ Donor! IMA to Organize ‘Walkathon’ to Mark ‘National Day of Organ Donations’
Be a Hero, Be an Organ Donor! Indian Medical Association (IMA)-Mangaluru to Organize ‘Walkathon’ to Mark ‘National (Indian) Day of Organ Donations’ on 25 November 2018
Mangaluru: National (Indian) Organ Donation Day is observed every year on 27 November with a core objective to bring awareness among the public on organ donation, its process, legal aspects, pledging, issuing donor card and also the road safety. The purpose of the celebration is loud and clear – to promote organ donation for those who are in need of them. In India alone, lakhs of people die each year because of their organ failure. Such people could live to see a new day if only people with healthy organs could go ahead and donate their organs. There are many organs which can be donated after death. Donated organs can be life-changing for thousands of people in need, all across the world. Organ Donation Day 2018 promotes the need for organ donation around the country and the need to spread awareness of the same. The main objective lies in removing the taboo around organ donation.
The organ donor can be anyone of which the organ can be transplanted to the patient urgently require. The organ donated by the normal human being is saved properly to transplant into the patient whenever he or she require. One can get the new life through the organ transplantation donated by someone. ‘Heaven’ does not need organs but millions of people will have a fresh lease of life with the organs donated by ‘Brain Dead” patients making ‘Heaven on Earth” for them- and being a ‘Cadaver Donor’ is highly appreciated. A cadaver donor is a person who makes the decision to donate his or her body after death for the sake of scientific experiment and discovery, or for organ harvesting. Hospitals may accept cadavers if some of the organs or tissue can be used for medical purposes. Frequently, the person must give consent to become a cadaver donor before he or she dies, though in some situations, the next of kin can grant the permission for the donation even if the deceased person did not grant permission before death.
Addressing the media persons during a press meet held at Mangaluru Press Club, Dr Sachidananda Rai, the President of Indian Medical Association, Mangaluru said, “Indian Medical Association (IMA), Mangaluru has planned a walkathon in Mangaluru on November 25, to commemorate National Organ Donation Day which is on 27 November. Unfortunately there is not much awareness about Organ Donation in Mangaluru. Only 14 organs have been donated so far in Mangaluru in the land of literates, and only three people donated their organs this year,”
“In this connection Indian Medical Association Mangaluru, Association of Medical Consultants, like-minded organizations, religious heads, district administration, political parties and leaders, media friends and brethren in different professions have held discussions and decided to hold a programme of creating awareness on November 25. A 3 Km walkathon is planned which commences from Mangala Stadium on November 25 at 6.30 am, and will move towards M G Raod, and culminates back at Mangala Stadium. All the citizens, students, women, teachers, doctors, advocates, chartered accountants, engineers, journalists, entrepreneurs, workers, bus and rickshaw staff will take part in the walkathon, to create awareness and take an oath on organ donations. We also request citizens to light green lamp or decorate with green lighting their offices and residences on November 25, 26 and 27,” added Dr Rai.
Also speaking Dr Prashanth Marla- MD, A J Hospital and Research Centre, Mangaluru. and IMA State Council, Member said, “There are estimated about 160 people per million who end up in end stage kidney failure, for which transplantation is the best option. There is a need for 25,000 kidney transplants every year but on the contrary 3,500 transplants are being done per year in India. There is substantial number of people who land up with liver failure too, who require transplantation. It is estimated that about 150,000 die in India due to road traffic accidents, out of which at least 50% people reach hospital and later declared “brain dead”. If about 20% of such people’s relatives come forward for cadaveric organ donation, it will help significant number of patients. Not many people are aware of Organ Donation, so in order to bring awareness of Organ Donation, this Walkathon has been planned, and we seek support from the public to a great extent”. Dr Divakar Rao, State IMA Council Member was also present during the press meet.
ORGAN DONATION: What is organ donation and transplantation?
by: Dr B Sachindanand Rai, President, IMA-Mangaluru
Organ donation is the process of surgically removing an organ or tissue from one person (the organ donor) and placing it into another person (the recipient)
Types of donation
There are three different ways to donate. These are:
Donation following brain death: When a person is diagnosed as brain dead. This person would have had a severe brain injury and permanently lost the potential for consciousness and the capacity to breathe.
Donation following circulatory death: When a person is diagnosed as dead. This is when a person has irreversible loss of function of the heart and lungs after a cardiac arrest from which the person cannot be resuscitated.
Living donation: While you are still alive you can choose to donate through a medical operation a kidney (most commonly), in some cases a small section of your liver or lung or discarded bone from a hip or knee replacement can be donate.
In India, a panel of 4 doctors has to declare you brain dead before your organs can be harvested – this is done after a series of exhaustive tests – Cornea reflex test, Ear reflex test, Gag reflex test and Aphena reflex test – which are repeated twice in a time frame of six hours. The panel must include – the medical administrator in charge of the hospital, an authorized specialist, a neurologist/neuro-surgeon and the medical officer treating patient.
Brain death is NOT coma. Coma is a state of deep unconsciousness, where the brain continues to function and the person can breathe on his/her own, without the help of a ventilator. Thus, unlike brain death, in a coma, the brain still has the capacity to heal. If there is activity in the brain, the person will not be declared brain dead.
What organs can be donated?
Organs that can be donated include kidneys, liver, pancreas, lungs and heart, while tissue constitutes corneas, skin, bone, heart valves, veins
How long can donated organs last outside the body in deceased donations?
Healthy organs should be transplanted as soon as possible from the donor to the recipient. Organs must be removed as soon as possible after the determination of brain death, while circulation is being maintained artificially. Tissues may be removed within 12 to 24 hours.
The approximate maximum time for these organs/tissues is: Lung (4-6 hours); Heart (4-6 hours); Liver (24 hours); Pancreas (24 hours); Kidney (72 hours); Corneas (14 days); Bone (5 years); Skin (5 years); Heart valves (10 years).
Here are a few facts to clear up common misconceptions:
Are there any costs to the organ donor’s family for donation?
The donor’s family doesn’t have to bear any expenses for organ or tissue donation. All costs pertaining to the organ transplant surgery will be handled by the recipient’s family or the organ transplant program.
Will organ donation disfigure the body?
Organ donation does not disfigure the deceased donor’s body. There is a single incision made through which organs are retrieved and it is ensure that the body is handed back to the family in the most respectful of manner.
The recovery of organs, tissue, and eyes is a surgical procedure performed by trained medical professionals.
If I need an organ or tissue transplant, what do I need to do?
If you need a transplant, you need to get on the national waiting list. To get on the list, you need to visit a transplant hospital
What makes organ donation difficult in India?
Finding a donor match is difficult to begin with. In India, this challenge is compounded by bureaucratic hurdles and lack of awareness.
The first challenge is red-tapism and lengthy paperwork. According to existing rules, if the potential donor is not related to the person who needs the organ, the transplant needs to be approved by a state-level committee or by a hospital committee that includes government officials.
The next challenge is that it is often difficult for family members to accept their loved one is brain dead. On a life support system, the person looks like he/she is sleeping. The fact that body is warm to touch and the heart is beating makes it difficult for doctors to convince the family members to donate the organs of their relative. Even if the family is ready to donate organs, superstitions and misconceptions become impediments.
Another problem is that there are too few surgeons and hospitals equipped for transplants. Ventilators for preserving the organs of a brain dead person and intensive-care unit personnel trained to manage such situations are prerequisites for a transplant
Unlike in many western countries, where an adult is asked to make a choice if he she wants to be a donor, in India, the choice is left to the family. After a person carrying a donor card dies, the family still needs to approve the donation of organs. So, if you intend to be an organ donor, it is imperative that you inform your family about your wish.
Indian statistics : In India 5 lakh people die because of non-availability of organs; one lakh people die of liver disease only 1000 get a liver transplant; 50,000 people die from heart disease; 2.2 lakh people await a kidney transplant but only 15,000 get one; 1,000,000 lakh people suffer from corneal blindness and await transplant; Cadaver donation in India in 2017 is 905, in 2016 is 807
For More Details Call: 9448455166; 9480158124; 9845080879
Author: Dr B Sachidanand Rai
