As we come close to Organ Donation day on 13th August 2016 let us understand how it is done. All you have to do is register for Organ Donation. Let us all come together and work towards increasing Organ Donation numbers in India.
Organ Donation in India
Each year, hundreds of people die while waiting for an organ transplant. We need to change the mindset of people to change these numbers. There is a shortage of organs, and the gap between the number of organs donated and the number of people waiting for a transplant is getting larger. Transplants have successful outcomes and over the coming years the need for transplant is expected to rise steeply.
However not everyone is eligible to donate their Organs. Unfortunately, in India, a large number of people die due to road accidents. Organ Donation is rare in these cases. As organs need to be transplanted as soon as possible following the donor’s death, they can only be donated by someone who has died in the hospital. Usually, organs come from people who are certified as brain dead while on a ventilator in a hospital intensive care unit.
This makes us realise that even after pledging our Organs a small percentage of people qualify as Organ Donors, depending on the circumstances of their demise.
How does Organ Donation Work
Transplants post brain death have to be done immediately to ensure the organs remain suitable for transplantation. However, for this to happen you must have expressed your consent towards Organ Donation or your family has to give their permission. Once family consent is received, consent from the legal authorities is obtained and the organ procurement organization is informed. In the meanwhile the donor is maintained on a ventilator and stabilized with fluids and medications. The recipient is identified for the transplant and a surgical team is readied to arrive at the hospital for removal of Organs and tissues. The donors body is surgically closed and handed over to the family.
Some key Reasons for Shortage of Organ donors in India:
- There is a major lack of awareness about organ donation in India,and recent surveys reveal that people would come forth with their wish to donate if they had received more information.
- A major reason for the shortage of organs is that many people have not recorded their wish about organ donation or discussed it with their families.
- Myths and misconceptions about organ donation discourage potential donors from making the decision to donate organs or tissue after death.
Make a difference after you have left the world
The act of organ donation has the ability to comfort grieving families. It is always difficult to lose a loved one. Many grieving families of organ donors draw comfort from the fact that their loss may help to save or improve the lives of others. Most of the donor families agreed to donate organs because they felt that it was the only positive outcome from their loss.
Let us all pledge towards Organ Donation. Our Team at KDAH is working hard towards maximum registrations for Organ Donation. Have you taken a decision yet? Click on the below link to register:
