One organ donor can save 8 lives, yet 5 lakh people await transplants yearly
advertisementUNDERSTANDING BRAIN DEATHBrain death refers to a condition where most vitals organs are functioning, but the brain is dead and unrecoverable. A team of health care professionals conducts tests such as the apnea test, brain stem reflexes and sometimes cerebral angiography to declare brain death.
Once the brain is declared dead, continued care at the hospital is often considered futile. However, before withdrawing ventilator support, the patient's family is given some time to decide whether they are willing to donate the patient's organs. Organ donation is a righteous act as one patient's organs alone can fuel life into more than seven people. Unfortunately, the decision to donate falls on family members during the darkest and lowest phase of their lives, when they are grappling with the loss of a loved one.In Karnataka, organ allocation is carried out by a government body named Jeeva Sarthakathe, which oversees the allocation of organs to recipients after receiving consent from the patient's family. Unfortunately, in India, despite receiving more than 2 lakh registrations for organ donation annually, only about 18,000 organ transplants actually take place each year.Given the immense difference that organ donation can make in an individual's life, it is crucial for every Indian to recognise of the importance of this selfless act and take part in spreading awareness. By being a donor, one can cross religious, political, and economic boundaries and stand true to the saying: "One body, Many lives".WHO / GLOBAL OBSERVATORY ON DONATION AND TRANSPLANTATION (GODT)The GODT compiles global, regional, and country-level data on organ donation and transplantation in its most recent summaries (2022–2023 data):Over 146,000 solid organ transplants were performed globally in 2022 — an 8.7% increase compared to 2021, yet only a fraction of the global need.Kidney transplants make up the majority (~65%), followed by liver (~22%), heart (~8%), and lung (~4%).Living donor transplants represent ~39% of kidney transplants and ~20% of liver transplants worldwide.Donation rates vary widely: Spain, the U.S., and some EU countries report over 40 deceased donors per million population (pmp), while many countries in Asia and Africa report <5 pmp.(Source: WHO & GODT)Inputs by Dr Lohit Shetty Raju, Consultant - HPB and Liver Transplantation Surgery, Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru- EndsMust Watch
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