Need for more awareness on organ donation: Dr Hari Prasad

On the eve of Organ Donation Day (August 13), Apollo Hospitals along with Jeevan Dan and 'CII Young Indian' hosted a programme Gift An Organ and spare a life, to build awareness amongst the youth about Organ donation and the plight of terminally ill patients awaiting succor through organ transplantation, on Thursday at Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills.

Dr Hari Prasad, President, Apollo Hospitals; Dr Swarnalatha, CEO, Jeevandhan, Dr AGK Gokhale, Sr Consultant Cardio Thoracic Surgeon, Dr Subramanyam, Sr Consultant - Kidney Transplant and Dr Padmaja Lokireddy, Consultant Hemato Oncologist Apollo Hospitals, speaking on the occasion said, the Organ Donation Programme, Jeevan Dan has made an excellent beginning in the state, but needs to take wing to satiate the dire need for organs for millions of patients, virtually on a death bed. Over three hundred youth from 'CII - Young Indian' came forward to pledge their organs and handed over the signed Organ donor cards. Some overwhelmed organ recipients felicitated the doctors on the occasion by tying a rakhi as a token of gratitude for saving their lives and wishing their well being.

Dr Hari Prasad speaking on the occasion said, India needs largest number of organs in the world for multiple reasons, as we are the diabetic capital of the world with the largest number of diabetics here, leading to multiple organ damage, despite taking medication. Largest number of renal failures are seen here. But today we have the ability to do transplant even to them, we do the pancreatic, renal, heart transplants. Organ donations has improved but not at the rate at which it should improve, in the last five years it has gone up by five to six times but still a small proportion of what is required and possible in this country.

The most common source of organs is road accidents, though the road accidents are increasing by manifold but unfortunately this is not translating into organ donation from brain dead patients in road traffic accidents. At any point of time there are 100000 people waiting for a liver and would die if a transplant is not done. Similarly corneal transplant which started many years ago has still not been able to wipe out blindness in our country. South India is doing extremely well in organ transplantation and Telangana is leading the South Indian states in this drive. Apollo took initiative in promoting organ donations and transplantations in the country.

Best utilising of the available organ becomes paramount, therefore Apollo has specialists with the best outcomes across the country. One lakh Apollo family members across the country will be pledging their organs, Cricketer Gautam Gambhir will be administering the oath to employees on Organ Donation Day, 13th August.