mangalore today

Organ donation, ’awareness walkathon’ : Nov 25


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Nov 23, 2018: In order to create high awareness among public on cadaver organ donation, the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Association of Medical Consultants and the DK district Working Journalists Association will organise a 3-kilometer awareness walkathon from Mangala Stadium on Novermber 25.

IMA President Dr B Sachidanand Rai told reporters on Wednesday that there is no significant rise in the number of cadaver organ transplantation because of lack of awareness about organ donation of a brain-dead person. Though government ushered in many rules, the cadaver organ transplantation still remains negligible due to myths about the latter.

"Organ failure takes away around 2-3 lakh lives. However, cadaver transplantation will solve this problem to a large extent. But, the number of people agreeing to donate organs of brain-dead is negligible," he said. The district has seen only three cadaver organ donation in 2018. The district had registered 14 donations since the hospitals in Mangaluru received permission for organ transplant.

Last year, 905 cadaver organs were donated in India benefitting 3,000 people in the country. The cadaver organs of a brain dead man can give lease of life to 8 people in need of organs. Dr Rai declared that there was no religion against cadaver organ donation. We had already spoken to the Bishop, Maulvi and Hindu religious leaders who had lauded our efforts on cadaver organ donation.

As a part of the awareness programme, the walkathon will be attended by students, women, teachers, doctors, advocates, engineers, charted accountants, bus and auto drivers. A pledge on organ donation will be administered during the programme. Further, he appealed all the office buildings to light a green lamp on November 25, 26 and 27, to symbolise organ donation and create awareness.

Dr Prashanth Marla of A J Hospital and Research Centre said as many as 1.50 lakh people are declared brain-dead due to injuries suffered in accidents. The cadaver organ donation gives a lease of life to many more people. He said that there are nine recognised hospitals—KMC, Manipal, A J Hospital and Research Centre, KSHEMA, Yenepoya Hospital, Unity Hospital, Mangala Hospital, Fr Muller Hospital and Indiana Hospital—in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi for transplanting.