Udupi district becomes a pioneer in ’organ donation’

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Jan 31, 2016: DC Dr R Vishal, spearheaded a unique aim for this coastal district of Udupi, to now become a declared ’organ donation district’. Needed rules and regulations on organ donation will be simplified and necessary software used to ensure that organs are made available to the deserving recipients. A scheme is in place already to ensure that the district becomes a model over the next decade in organ donation.

 

The naming of the district as an ’organ donation district’  saw the participation of Kasturba Hospital, departments of health and family welfare, transport and police, KMC, Manipal and Gift Your Organ Foundation at a function organised at district offices complex, Manipal on Jan 30, Saturday. The district administration has also set up a brain dead persons committee. While there are two organ transplantation counsellors, two more will be appointed in February.

Explaining the initiative, DC Dr  Vishal told  media that the idea of declaring the district an organ donation district is to ensure that Udupi is in forefront of organ donation just as it is in case of educational parameters. "The whole idea is to institutionalize system of organ donation as per strict procedures and protocols laid down," Vishal said adding that the whole programme will run with agencies such a s Zonal Coordination Committee of Karnataka for Transplantation monitoring.

DC Dr  Vishal said that a start will be made with people who come for their license at RTO. They will be shown a small video and explained about the immediate need of donating organs. If convinced, their licenses will be embossed with a small sticker which indicates the person is willing to donate organs. This will be continued even at time of renewal of license, he said, adding in the case of eventuality, team of experts will be there to harvest the organs.

It is for this that the administration has roped in KMC, Manipal that has the expertise to carry out complex procedures to harvest organs from brain dead people in time. The administration will strive to create a data bank of potential donors, rope in the Indian Red Cross Society to get people join the organ donation bandwagon and also ensure that people registered in the organs recipient registry are kept informed as and when an organ matching their requirement comes up. This admirable initiative is sure to be adopted by other districts it is said.