Bangalore, August 14, 2022: With an aim to create awareness and encourage people to donate organs, Aster CMI Hospital organized an organ donation drive today at the hospital. The drive witnessed doctors, nurses and staff from the hospital along with people visiting the hospital pledging their organs. Also, doctors narrate inspiring stories of those unsung heroes who have donated organs and saved lives. During the awareness drive, the transplant Team at the hospital spoke on the importance of organ donation, followed by a live interactive session. The drive saw more than 100 people coming forward to pledge their organs.

In India, there is a wide gap between the number of organs required and the organs available. Because there aren’t many organ donors worldwide, most patients still experience organ shortages and suffer as a result, approximately half a million people die annually due to the unavailability of organs. Organ donation is one of the precious gifts one can consider giving. One organ can save eight people. It offers a wonderful chance for everyone to make a decision to donate their priceless organs.

Also Read: Organ donation-India struggling with shortage of organs for transplantation

As a part of the drive, the hospital has set up a kiosk machine where one can scan the QR Code displayed within the hospital premises or one can also fill in the pledge form at the registration desk to pledge their organs and help save lives. The drive concluded by observing a moment of silence for those who died in the tragedy and their organs were donated to save others’ lives. To pay tribute and honour their ultimate sacrifice, top doctors and surgeons at the hospital lit up candles in their names.

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Bengaluru, 12 January 2021: In order to raise awareness about organ donation and lung transplantation, Aster RV Hospital conducted an inter-hospital cricket tournament  at the Islamiah Institute of Technology on Monday. Healthcare professionals from across the city participated in the event to support the cause of organ donation.

It is estimated that a significant number of people with advanced lung diseases are in need of a lung transplant in India; however awareness levels on organ donation are still very low. Considering the size of the population and the number of people who are in need of organ transplants, India has one of the lowest organ donation rates in the world.

Dr. Pavan Yadav, senior consultant, interventional pulmonology and lung transplantation at Aster RV Hospital, who led the tournament said, “Many patients with advanced lung disease go on to become chronically oxygen dependent with limited mobility and poor quality of life. Lung transplantation is the only viable option in this group of patients however awareness regarding organ donation is quiet low in India. This gift of kindness can save the lives of many such patients with advanced lung disease.”

India is the COPD capital of the world with this condition being the second most common cause of death in the country after heart disease. In the recently published LASI study (Longitudinal Ageing Study in India), it was found that about 49% of the participants suffered from abnormal lung function. With non-communicable diseases on a rise, it is of utmost important that more people become aware the process of organ donation to cope with the rising burden of people in need of a lung transplant.

In order to register for organ donation, a person can fill out an online pledge form from the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) and be a part of this noble cause.

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Bengaluru: In a very inspiring situation, a 49-year-old brain dead patient has given a new life to 5 people by donating her organs. Manjula (name changed) who met with an accident on December 13, 2020 breathed her last in Columbia Asia Hospital Hebbal on December 15, 2020. Immediately her family came forward to donate her organs which helped in saving the life of 5 people.

Manjula hailing from Yelahanka met with a road accident on December 13 near the Bangalore airport. She was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and was later referred to Columbia Asia Hospital Hebbal for further treatment.

When the patient was brought to Columbia Asia Hospital Hebbal, doctors immediately examined her and realised that she had traumatic brain injury. Patient was unresponsive, her blood pressure was low and there was no brain activity. She was immediately put on ventilator. However, due to the severity of her brain injury she could not be saved.

Understanding the situation, immediately her family members came forward to donate her organs. This cadaver organ donation was performed in association with Jeevasarthakathe, the State’s nodal agency that facilitates cadaver organ donations. The organs were sent to different hospitals in the city. Liver was sent to BGS Hospital, left kidney was sent to Apollo Hospital, Right kidney was used for a patient in Columbia Asia Hospital Hebbal, Heart to Jayadeva Hospital and Eyes were sent to Narayana Nethralaya.

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BR Life SSNMC Hospital, one  of the Bengaluru’s leading healthcare providers, witnessed a brave act of compassion when 35-year-old Hemanth Kumar, a road accident victim’s family gave their consent to donate his organs to patients in need of immediate transplant. The hospital that launched “I LIVE ON” campaign last year to encourage people to come forward and pledge their organs for donation witnessed a success story through Hemanth and his family. “I LIVE ON” is an online platform to pledge organs initiated by BR Life SSNMC Hospital.

Hemant, hailing from Kunigal, suffered a traumatic brain injury following a severe road traffic accident at Sunkadakatte after he fell down from his bike. He was brought to BR Life SSNMC Hospital for emergency and advanced care. However, despite all the clinical efforts provided, Hemanth could not survive and was confirmed brain dead by the treating clinical team.

Hemanth’s family approached the medical team at the hospital and expressed their wish to donate his healthy organs to patients in dire need of an immediate transplant. Hemanth and his family have always believed in the good deed of donating organs to save multiple lives. The organs were procured by a surgical team led by Dr. Rehan Saif, Senior Consultant HPB/Transplant Surgeon, Dr. Rommel S, Consultant HPB/Transplant Surgeon and Dr. Giridhar Venkatesh, Consultant Urologist.  The liver and one of the kidneys were transplanted to patients at BR Life SSNMC Hospital. The lungs, another kidney, heart valves and corneas were transported to other hospitals.

At BR Life SSNMC Hospital, the liver transplant surgery was performed by Dr. RehanSaif,Senior Consultant – Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary & Transplant Surgeon, Dr. Rommel S, Consultant Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary & Transplant Surgeon and Dr. Naveen Ganjoo,Senior Consultant Hepatologist. The kidney transplant was performed by Dr. Giridhar Venkatesh, Consultant Urologist and Dr. Manjunath S, Consultant Nephrologist.

Dr. RehanSaif, Senior Consultant – Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary & Transplant Surgeon said, “Deciding to donate organs after your death is a gift beyond compare. Hemanth’s family must be applauded for this selfless act which has helped multiple patients with organ failure to get a second chance at life.”

 Lauding the act of compassion of Hemanth’s family, Col Hemraj Parmar, Group CEO, BR Life says, “We have always witnessed a wide gap between the number of organs available and transplants awaited. A donor can save as many as 8 lives by donating various parts of the body once deceased. I am very happy that through Hemanth, we were able to perform this multi-organ transplant surgery, send organs to other hospitals for patients and create an awareness regarding deceased organ donation. I sincerely thank the family members of Hemanth for providing their consent on time and helping us save lives of people.”

The family members of Hemanth shared, “We are happy that our decision to donate Hemanth’s healthy organs have helped in saving lives of people waiting to live life again. We thank BR Life SSNMC Hospital for making all necessary arrangements on time to ensure that the transplant surgeries took place on time. Organ donation is a noble cause and it is indeed our honour to have contributed for the cause that both Hemanth and we believe in. We hope that through this act of ours, more people will come forward and pledge to donate their organs in future.”

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India is struggling with acute shortage of organs for transplantation and there is dire need to increase awareness on organ donation. According to a report, more than 500,000 people are waiting for organ transplant in the country and only handful of 3,500 transplants are performed annually. The shortage of organs for transplant is a universal issue; however, the situation is grave in India. With less than one person per million people, the organ donation ratio in India is estimated to be one of the lowest in the world as per WHO report.

Awareness is needed

Despite India being the world’s second-most populous country, it has a poor deceased organ donation rate of just 0.26 per million population compared to 26 in the US. Undoubtedly, the demand far outstrips the availability of organs. Due to the prevalence of myths and superstitions, many do not think about donating their organs even after death. Awareness on organ donation is therefore the only way out of this depressing scenario.

Unfortunately, very people in India have any idea about organ donation, or how they could potentially help after their deaths. Awareness sessions have to be held at offices, colleges, schools, and even homes to change this scenario. Most organ and tissue donations occur after the donor has died. But some organs and tissues can be donated while the donor is alive. However, the hope is the more potential donors there are, the more the likelihood of organs becoming available to save lives.

One donor can save up to 8 lives

Experts have estimated that only 2-3% of the overall organ transplant requirement is met in a year in the country. For instance, as per Organ Retrieval Banking Organization (ORBO), AIIMS, on average, 2 lakh people need kidney transplants every year, whereas only 10,000 get donors. It is important to note that one donor can save up to 8 lives as 8 organs can be harvested from one brain dead person. According to National Organ Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO), almost 5 lakh people die every year and 17 people every day in India due to a lack of organ donors. This shows the dire situation in our country, where the act of Organ Donation and awareness about it are both significantly low.

Also Read: Organ transplant surgeries and Organ donation in India : There is a need for national-level awareness to be created 

Lack of knowledge and prejudices about Organ Donation often hold people back from donating their or their family members’ organs. There is thus an urgent need to create awareness about organ donation on a monumental scale, such that it becomes a mass movement and people voluntarily pledge to donate their organs. Organs can be donated by anybody in good general health. This is a noble deed and the need of the hour. So, this World Organ donation day, take a pledge to help those who are in need of organs for survival.

Dr. Sonal Asthana,
Sr. Consultant – HPB & Transplant Surgery,
Aster CMI Hospital
Bengaluru- 560092
Ph: 080-43420100

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