Monday, 14 March 2016

ORGAN DONATION- THE GIFT OF A LIFETIME

Indore has now entered among the top Indian cities in organ donation. We are now ranked second (amongst cities) when a sum total is calculated for eye, skin and cadaver donations. We have now started making a green corridor and transporting the organ to other cities by air.


This news has captured everyone’s eyes last week, but there are still few myths related to this. Let’s understand the whole stuff…


What is organ donation?

Organ donation is the donation of biological tissue or an organ of the human body from a living or dead person to a living recipient in need of a transplantation. The donor of the organs plays a role of God in the life of organ transplanted person. One organ donor can save more than 8 lives in his life by donating his well function organs. 


A reality check

More than 5 lakhs of the Indians are dying every year just because of the failure of their major functioning organs anytime.

·         200,000 people die of liver disease
·         50,000 people die from heart disease
·         150,000 people await a kidney transplant but only 5,000 get one
·         1,000,000 people suffer from corneal blindness and await transplant


Law for safe organ donation

To prevent the commercial dealing in human organs a Transplantation of Human Organs (THO) Act was passed in 1994. Aim of this act is to regulate the removal, storage and transplantation of human organs for therapeutic purposes only.


Who can donate?

·         A deceased donor, after brain death or cardiac death
·         A living donor, who can give a kidney, or a portion of the liver, lung, intestine or pancreas


Which organs can be donated?

Up to 25 different organs and tissues can be donated for transplantation.
Transplant able organs include :-

·         Heart
·         Kidneys
·         Liver
·         Lungs
·         Pancreas
·         Small intestines
Transplantable tissues include
·         Blood, blood vessels
·         Eyes
·         Skin
·         Bones
·         Bone marrow
·         Cartilage
·         Connective tissues
·         Heart valves


Maximum time span between recovering organs/ tissues and transplantation

Lung                    (4-6 hours)
Heart                   (4-6 hours)
Liver                    (12 hours)
Pancreas             (12 hours)
Kidney                 (12 hours)
Skin                     (6-12 hours)
Corneas               (14 days)


Reason for low organ donation rate

Most of the people do not have proper awareness about the organ donation, which organs can be donated, when they can donate, how to get registered for the organ donation, etc. Some people do not interested in the organ donation or do not show their independent desire for organ donation because of the family pressure or their own fear and myths.


How to donate

There are two ways to donate organs:
1.   
By pledging for organ donation when a person is alive
2.   By consent of family after death
Indian Society of Organ Transplantation was initiated the Transplant Registry in India in 2005. There is a facility of online organ registry for the people all over India who are willing to donate organs on their own will. Organ registry ensures the proper organ donation as well as the fair use of donated organs in the future according to the priority of need and requirements of the organs to the recipients.  Please visit the following website for registration :-

1. Mohan Foundation: http://mohanfoundation.org/
3. Gift Your organ: http://giftyourorgan.org/

4. Gift a Life: http://giftalife.org//

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