Awareness to destigmatise organ donation
Kolkata: The Calcutta Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) conducted a programme to spread awareness about organ donation at its academic building on Tuesday.
With the state government giving impetus to organ donation procedure, the city has recently seen a spur in organ transplantations in private and government and state-run medical colleges in the city. The state health department has been carrying out various awareness programmes in various hospitals across the state.
The doctors, who took part in a panel discussion at the hospital, said many people are still reluctant to donate the organs of their deceased family members. Even in cases, in which the person is brain dead, people are hesitant to donate organs despite efforts by the government because of certain stigma attached to it. The doctors also stressed the necessity to impart knowledge so that people are enlightened.
The entire process is done through a register maintained by the Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (ROTTO) having the names of potential receivers.
Incidentally, the CMCH has emerged to be a front runner among the other medical colleges in the city with conducting the largest number of heart transplants so far. CMCH is also the first government owned hospital in the state that had obtained a clearance from the state health department to conduct heart transplants. One heart transplant has also been carried out by the SSKM Hospital, which is the second hospital to get such a license.
State nodal officer of organ donations Dr Tamal Kanti Ghosh, who was present at the programme, said the number of organ donation cases have gone up in the city. Around 21 organ donation cases have been reported so far in the state.
"We are conducting drives in various departments to inspire people to donate organs. We are urging people to take pledges so that the initiative can attain a different dimension. We have started portal where people can register their pledges both online and off line. Many people are now coming forward with their pledges following relentless campaign under taken by the state government," Ghosh said.
Dr Plaban Mukherjee, head of the department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS) at the CMCH, who took part in the panel discussion stressed on the necessity of including organ donation awareness programme in the curricula at the school level.
While addressing the gathering, Dr Ghosh also pointed out that it would be better if the subject was incorporated in the MBBS syllabus.
