Celebs speak up for organ donation
India has the lowest organ donation rate in the world at 0.1 per million population but this is hopefully about to change as the country’s first organ donation website www.giftalife.org was recently launched. Cricketer Gautam Gambhir who was present at the launch pledged to donate his body organs to a hospital in Delhi. In comparison to blood donation and eye donation, organ donation is still lagging behind.
According to Vijay Palkar, co-chairman Rotary Club of Borivli Eye Bank, the reason is cumbersome rules and no awareness. “There is less awareness amongst people and the government rules are very difficult. Eye donation and skin donation is still permitted, but for organ donation, a person should be in coma, admitted in a hospital and a government team of doctors has to examine the patient and only if they declare that the patient is brain dead, can the process be implemented. It’s a rare case, how many people can be in coma in the first place?”
He adds, “Also, sometimes, when a person pledges to donate, after his death his relatives also need to sign a consent form to release the body, in most cases people refuse.”
However, Aman Panwar, office bearer with Delhi Youth Congress, who was a part of a successful blood donation drive on former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s birthday last year believes it’s time political leaders and known celebrities step up and spread the word.
“Since this is still at a nascent stage in India, we need known figures to strengthen the cause and spread the word. Political leaders and celebs should join in. Sadly, an old myth that’s still prevalent is donating organs in this world may rob you of your organs in the next birth. We need to clear such misconceptions,” says Aman.
Blood donation and eye donations have picked up because of awareness drives that encourge people to donate. Aman adds, “Organ donation too can fare well, we need a face for the campaign and people will follow,” he says.
Nikhila Singh, IT professional, shares, “We have brand ambassadors for even random things, why not organ donation? All of us remember Aishwarya Rai, Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan as ambassadors for eye donation. The government should also step in and take this seriously as it’s going to benefit our people.”
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