Organ Donation Awareness Campaign of ROTTO PGIMER Concluded

By 121 News

Chandigarh 19^th 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 3^rd 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 3^rd 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.