Organ donation: Health Min to rope in godmen
1 Feb 2016 4:48 AM IST
The ministry is planning a series of meetings with acclaimed gurus across sects to encourage people on organ donation.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who has been recently felicitated with Padma Vibhushan award, Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ram Rahim, Brahma Kumaris, Baba Ramdev, Morari Bapuji, etc are among several religious leaders with whom the ministry is likely to initiate dialogue to encourage people for organ donation. Apart from this, gurus of Jains, Punjabis, Muslims and Christians would also be roped in to inspire their followers to turn organ donors.
“Given that organ donation is still a taboo in our society, religious gurus and preachers would help in breaking that myth. The ministry will hold a series of meeting with gurus of different sects and discuss in detail on methodologies to promote organ donation programme,” said NS Dharmshaktu, who is additional director general in the health ministry.
He further added, “Organ donation is a very sensitive issue in our society and we have to deal with it in that way only. We cannot force anyone for organ donation, but we can request them to be a part of this noble cause as the donated parts of a person, after their death, can give life
to another.”
According to the official, the ministry is approaching godmen, and a proposed meeting with gurus is likely to start from the first week of February.
Besides educating followers on the importance of organ donation, preachers would also be urged to dispel myths around organ donation – such as, while in emergency room, doctors won’t work hard to save a patient’s life, as only hearts, livers, and kidneys can be transplanted.
The gurus would also be asked to explain methods of donating organs, as most people believe that organs can be donated only after death.
Reports have revealed that people are willing to donate organs, but most of them don’t know how to do so. Moreover, the level of awareness about the process of volunteering to donate organs is very low among the people.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also urged people to donate organs, and said it was the most vital donation one could think of. “Organ donation can save valuable lives... I urge people to ... make donations,” Modi had said in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio address to the nation in November last.
“What could be a bigger donation than this? When an organ is transplanted in another (human) body, not only does the organ get a new life but also the body,” the PM had said.
Know the facts
Live related donation: Living donation takes place when a living person donates an organ (or part of an organ) for transplantation to another person. The living donor can be a family member, such as a parent, child, brother or sister, grandparent or grandchild.
Live unrelated donation: Living donation can also come from someone who is emotionally related to the recipient, such as a good friend, a relative, a neighbour or an in-law.
Deceased cadaver organ donation: The patient has to register in a hospital that does transplants. The patient will be put on a wait list. As and when the organ from an appropriate deceased donor (brain death) is available, the patient will be intimated.
Organs must be removed as soon as possible after the determination of brain death, while circulation is being maintained artificially. Tissues may be removed within 12 to 24 hours.
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