By Tricitynews Reporter
Chandigarh 19th
August:- The
gap between demand and supply is burgeoning with every passing day in view of the increased incidence of lifestyle diseases. We need intensified and impactful awareness campaigns to
reduce this gap. People must come forward, pledge their organs and keep their
families informed about their decision. This move will save thousands who die
for want of organs. This was stated Prof.
Jagat Ram, Director PGIMER while addressing at the Concluding Ceremony
of ROTTO PGIMER’s Organ Donation Awareness Campaign here at PGIMER today. The
Campaign was kicked off on 3rd August.
The other dignitaries present on the
occasion included the top leadership of PGIMER including Prof. D. Behera, Dean (Research), Prof. Rajesh Kumar, Dean (Academic), Amitabh Avasthi, DDA, Prof. Anil K. Gupta, MS-cum-Head,
Dept. of Hospital, Sushil Thakur,
I.A.A.S, FA, and Dr. Vipin Koushal,
Nodal Officer, ROTTO, PGIMER, Chandigarh
Though PGIMER has to its credit some
pioneer work done in the space of organ transplantation space, but every
transplant begins with a donation. So it is not simply a clinical endeavor, but
at its core, it reflects a humanitarian act of compassion and kindness.
Whenever any patient receives this gift of life, we see the impact of this kind
act of Organ Donation.” added the Director who had been rightly pitching for
community involvement to promote the cause. He opined that the problem of low
donation rates can be overcome by engaging with multiple stakeholders through
these awareness drives.
The director also felicitated 28
volunteers including students, teachers, NSS coordinators from various schools
of the city who had spearheaded different infotainment activities organized to
promote the altruistic cause of organ donation during the campaign launched on
3rd August by ROTTO PGIMER.
Through the campaign, ROTTO PGIMER
collaborated with multiple stake-holders ranging from religious outfits,
educational institutions and NGOs to media houses, corporate bodies, financial
institutions including Vishwas Meditation, NDTV, Fortis, Canara Bank,
Chandigarh College of Engineering & Technology, Sector 26, Govt. Senior
Secondary Schools of Sector 20, 20-D, 19 and 32, Carmel Convent, Rotary Club,
Himachal Youth Brigade, PGIMER Faculty Association to mention a few and
organized engagement activities and awareness sessions in Chandigarh and
adjoining states.
Encouraged by the positive response
towards the Organ Donation Campaign, Prof.
Anil K. Gupta, Medical Superintendent-cum-Head, Dept. of
Hospital Administration, PGIMER
shared that many people find talk of organ donation uncomfortable and perhaps
morbid, and others believe organ donation is a good thing but put off doing
something about it for another day. So the campaign was launched with intent to
reach out and engage with multiple partners to educate them about the cause,
dispel myths around the subject and encourage them to sign up as organ donors.
Reiterating the same sentiment, Dr Vipin Koushal, Nodal Officer, ROTTO
PGIMER said that considering the fact that organ donation
is not less because there are no potential donors but because the potential
donors do not convert into actual donors due to the lack of knowledge,
awareness and socio-cultural views. To address this issue, ROTTO PGIMER has
been proactively tapping multiple windows of opportunities to embed awareness
about organ donation in public conscience. In our country with high rate of
road accidents, probably one death every 3.6 minutes in road accidents,
deceased donor transplantation offers a second chance of life for many. Hence
awareness can really play a savior.
Established in March, 2016 under the
aegis of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the Union Ministry of
Health, PGIMER designated as ROTTO (Regional Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization)
has been creating awareness among people on deceased organ donation to garner
traction for the cause. As an outcome of these consistent efforts, PGIMER is
witnessing an increasing trend in organ donation with 33 cadaver organ
donations already in this year till date as compared to 27 throughout in 2016.
Till date, the transplants done by PGIMER are as follows : Kidney : 3586
(Live 3340; Cadaver 246); Liver : 32; Heart : 4; Pancreas :11, Lung : 1 and
Cornea : 3405.
Vikram
Rana, NSS State Liaison Officer, Chandigarh Administration, awarded
on the occasion, stated that encouraging participation from the students to
inculcate awareness among family members to promote Organ Donation can have
huge impact in changing the mind sets as the students can act as ‘change agents.
Sanya
Chhabra from Carmel Convent School and one of
the awardees shared her happiness as she said that it is an incredible gesture
on the part of PGIMER. We will try our best to disseminate the information
about this noble cause.
The event concluded with the
felicitation of the volunteers.
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