Published On : Mon, Sep 28th, 2015

Only 0.3 per cent organ donation in city

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d249501-largeNagpur: Every year, around 75,000 patients are declared brain dead in the city. Despite such a large number of these patients, only 0.3 per cent organs are donated. In the last two years, only eight brain dead patients donated organs. Presently, 200 patients are waiting for kidney donors in the city. Though giving a new lease of life to others by donating organs is a noble cause, there is no awareness about this among masses, said noted nephrologists.

The startling revelations were made at a press conference held on the sidelines of an organ donation awareness programme organised jointly by Indian Society of Organ Transplant and Central India Nephrology Society. President of Indian Society of Organ Transplant Dr Umesh Ojha, head of nephrology department of Bombay Hospital Dr A L Kriplani, senior nephrologist Dr V L Gupta, Dr B G Waghmare, Mohan Foundation”s Dr Ravi Wankhede, district governor of Rotary Club Dr Nikhil Chib, nephrologist Dr Sameer Chaube and others were present at the press conference.

Dr Ojha said, “Every year 1.50 lakh new patients need kidney transplantation. But only 5,000 to 7,000 kidney transplantation is done in the country. Dialysis is not a permanent cure. Kidney transplant is the only solution. One brain dead patient can give a new lease of life to seven to eight patients.

Dr Wankhede said that the state governmenty should undertake campaign of Mohan Foundation, which conducts large-scale organ donation campaign in Tamil Nadu, which is why the highest number of organ donation is recorded in Tamil Nadu. Similar campaign is being conducted in Rajasthan and Kerala. If Maharashtra government initiates such an exercise, the scenario in the state can change.