Organ donation is one of the noblest humanitarian acts, and greater public awareness can help save many more lives, experts said during an awareness programme organised under the national campaign “Angdaan Jeevan Sanjeevani Abhiyan” at KIMS Hospitals, Secunderabad.
The programme, themed “Organ Donation – Gift Life, Leave a Legacy,” was organised jointly by KIMS Group of Hospitals, the National Service Scheme (NSS), KIMS Educational Society and KIMS College of Nursing under the guidance of Dr. B. Bhaskar Rao, Chairman and Managing Director, KIMS Group of Hospitals. Doctors, nursing students and faculty members attended the event in large numbers. As per the press release, the initiative sought to dispel myths surrounding organ donation and encourage more people to pledge their organs.
Experts Call for Greater Awareness
Addressing the gathering, Dr. B. Bhaskar Rao described organ donation as the highest form of humanitarian service, saying it can offer a new lease of life to several patients even after death. He urged families to discuss organ donation openly and make informed decisions.
Dr. S. Manimala Rao, Director, Medical Education (Academics), KIMS Hospitals, said donating organs after death can bring hope to many families awaiting transplants.
One Donor Can Save Up to Eight Lives
Dr. Sandeep Gangaya Attawar, Program Director & Chair, Thoracic Organ Transplantation and Assist Devices, explained that organs such as the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys can be retrieved after brain death for transplantation. He noted that a single organ donor can save up to eight lives, while tissue donation can improve the lives of more than 50 people.
Kidney transplant specialists Dr. Saharia and Dr. Uma Maheswara Rao said awareness about organ transplantation is improving but stressed that sustained public education is still needed. They also urged educational institutions to promote a positive attitude towards organ donation among young people.
Students Pledge to Promote Organ Donation
Dr. Saurabh Lall, Chief Operating Officer, KIMS Hospitals, Secunderabad, encouraged nursing students to become ambassadors for organ donation.
The programme honoured families of organ donors under the leadership of K. Manga Devi, President, Organ Donation and Cadaver Transplant Service. Experts explained donor registration procedures and the organ retrieval process after brain death, following which students took an organ donation pledge and resolved to spread awareness.
The event was attended by Dr. Harini Chebrolu, President of KIMS Educational Society, along with faculty members and students. The organisers concluded by reiterating that “Organ donation is the greatest donation; a single decision can save many lives.”