Bengaluru: Nephrology Association of Karnataka (NAK) and State Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization (SOTTO) team up to bring public awareness to organ donation after death with their seminar, “A Gift Like No Other.”
Brain death is a state of irreversible and complete loss of all brain function, resulting in the cessation of vital bodily functions. When a person is declared brain dead in accordance with medical guidelines, they are considered deceased. However, the organs of a brain-dead person can still be maintained through life-support systems, allowing for successful transplantation to save the lives of up to 8 people and benefit up to 50 others.
These life-saving organs include the heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, pancreas, intestine, hands, and various tissues such as the cornea, skin, tendons, cartilage, and heart valves. By donating organs after brain death, a person can leave behind a legacy of hope and give the gift of life to those in need. But this is not happening much in the country due to prevalent religious beliefs that discourage people from coming forward as donors.
The event aims to shed light on the long-standing beliefs and misunderstandings related to religion and cultural customs that prevent people from considering organ donation. It is one of the major roadblocks that people face in coming forward as donors which creates fear and mistrust among the public.
The seminar seeks to address these misconceptions while aiming to challenge and dispel these misconceptions by convening a diverse group of experts and notable figures from different fields, who will offer their insights and personal experiences on the topic.
The organizers intend to allay any fears or doubts that people may have regarding organ donation and encourage them to consider it as a life-saving option.
The event promises to be a thought-provoking and enlightening one, with distinguished speakers like Justice Santhosh Hegde, Former Supreme Court Judge, Former Solicitor General of India, Former Lokayukta, Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, renowned Cardiothoracic surgeon, Founder & Chairman of Narayana Health, and many other chief guests, who will share their insights on the subject.
Dr Ishthiaque Ahmed, Convenor of the seminar quoted, “A smooth sailing organ donation process is the pressing need in India. We want to alleviate the serious problem of religious misbeliefs and superstitions surrounding organ donation that hinder people from coming forward. Numerous patients in need of several organs are on the waiting list while the number of donors is not even close to meeting the demand. We hope that this seminar will help us spread awareness and educate people about the importance of organ donation.”
Dr. Sundar Sankaran, Nephrologist and Renal Specialist at Aster hospital commented, “With experience of managing over 3000 kidney transplants, I have witnessed firsthand the life-saving impact of organ donation. It is important to remember that no religion prohibits organ donation. In fact, there are tales such as Sage Dadhichi donating his bones to Lord Indra to make a weapon called Vajra to kill evil beings. So we hope that our seminar clears the misconceptions.”
Dr Arvind Canchi, Consultant Nephrologist, at Sagar Hospitals said, ” Western countries have made significant strides in organ donation and transplantation, but unfortunately, India is lagging far behind. The persistent myths and false religious beliefs surrounding organ donation in our society need to be washed away. This seminar will witness chief guests from different religions in India, such as Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Jainism and more. We hope to spread awareness through this seminar and ultimately save many lives in the process. “
‘A Gift Like No Other’ seminar is scheduled to take place on the 16th of March 2023, starting from 7:00 P.M. at API Bhavan, Vasanth Nagar, Bengaluru. The organizers invite media channels, print media, and social media to attend and cover the seminar as instruments to spread the life-saving message far and wide.
City Today News – 9341997936
City Today News 
You must be logged in to post a comment.