Dr Mansukh Mandaviya delivers keynote address at the 13th Indian Organ Donation Day ceremony
There cannot be a greater service to humanity than giving life to another
person: Dr Mandaviya
“In 2013, around 5000 people came forward to donate their organs. Now there are
over 15,000 organ donors annually”
Felicitates Donor Families for their contribution towards saving lives and
encouraged others to spread awareness on organ donation
“There cannot
be a greater service to humanity than giving life to another person”.
This was stated by Dr Mansukh
Mandaviya, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare during his address at
the 13th Indian Organ Donation Day (IODD) ceremony, here today. Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar and Prof
SP Singh Baghel, Union Ministers of State for Health and Family Welfare and Ma
Subramanian, Minister of Health, Tamil Nadu were also present. The 13th IODD ceremony was held to
felicitate deceased donor families for their brave decision of donating organs
of their loved ones, to spread awareness on deceased organ donation and to
recognize the contribution of medical professionals working in the field of
organ donation and transplantation by awarding them.
Addressing the
gathering, Dr Mandaviya stated that it is important to recognize and appreciate
the contribution of all the people who have been a part of this endeavour. The Union Minister
highlighted that “in 2013, around 5000 people came forward to donate their
organs. Now there are over 15,000 organ donors annually”.
The Union Minister informed that the Government has taken several steps
towards increasing organ donations in the country. He said that leave duration
for organ donors have been increased from 30 days to 60 days, age limitations
of 65 years have been removed and the process of organ donation has been
further streamlined. He further stated that the government is committed to
bring in more policies and reforms to popularise organ donation in the country.
Appreciating the
contribution of organ donors, their family members and members from the civil
society, Dr Mandaviya applauded their
motivation and dedication. In this context, the Minister also urged the organ
recipients to promote this noble service and encourage others to also donate their organs for the
service of mankind.
An e-News Letter of National Organ and Tissue Transplant
Organization (NOTTO); Transplant Manual and National Curriculum for Transplant
Coordinator Course were released on the occasion. During the event, ‘Make in
India’ Products like Novel Hemophilia A Rapid Card Test and Von Willebrand
Disease Rapid Card Test’ of ICMR and an eCARe portal (e-clearance of afterlife
remains) of International Health division of the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare were also launched by the Union Health Minister.
eCARe Portal: When a person passes
away in other country, it leads to lot of paperwork and processes to bring the
mortal remains of the deceased back to India which leaves the family and
friends in dismay. Understanding
the sensitivity of this issue and following the principle of minimum government
and maximum governance, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of
India launched the eCARe (e-clearance of afterlife remains) portal to
streamline and expedite the process of transporting human remains to India from
different countries.
Haemophilia A and
von Willebrand Disease Diagnostic Kits: Haemophilia A and
von Willebrand Disease are the two most common lifelong inherited bleeding
disorders. The common clinical manifestations include
bleeding into the joints causing swelling and pain, bleeding into the skin
(bruising) or muscle and soft tissue bleeding. ICMR-National Institute of
Immunohematology (ICMR-NIIH), Mumbai has developed for the first time in the
world; a Kit
for diagnosis of Haemophilia A and von Willebrand Disease. The present kit is
likely to change the diagnostic landscape of bleeding disorders not only in our
country but in several other developing countries where diagnostic facilities
are either lacking or not up to the acceptable standards.
The Union Health Minister also
felicitated donor families, transplant professionals, transplant coordinators,
athletes of World Transplant Games and teams from MyGov, MoCA (Ministry of
Civil Aviation), Delhi Police and Indigo Airlines during the occasion.
Indian Organ Donation Day (IODD) is observed annually
since 2010, to augment awareness about brain stem death and organ donation,
dispel myths and misconceptions associated with organ donation and motivate and
encourage the citizens of the country to donate organs and tissues after death,
as well as to imbibe the values of organ donation in their lives. To reduce the
demand for organ transplantation campaign activities also promote healthy
lifestyles & wellness.
This year as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, an
awareness campaign for organ donation “Angdaan Mahotsav” has been kick-started.
Angdaan Mahotsav is being observed all over the country reaching from city to
village level with involvement of Central Government Ministries, State/UT
Government/Hospitals/Institutions and medical Colleges, NGOs and other
stakeholders. As part of the campaign, the month of July 2023 was observed as
the Organ Donation month. Various activities towards promotion of organ and
tissue donation namely National Webinar, Cyclothon, Walkathon, Organ donation
pledging and National Slogan competition through Government of India’s digital
platform, MyGov have been initiated.
Every donated organ is precious, lifesaving and a
national resource. A person after his death can give new life to up to 8 people
by donating vital organs namely Kidney, Liver, Lung, Heart, Pancreas and
Intestine and improve quality life of many more by donating tissues like
cornea, skin, bone and heart valve etc. The 13th IODD is an opportunity to
motivate people to donate organs in order to bridge the existing gap between
the number of people in need of organs for transplant and the number of donors.
People are encouraged to come forward to pledge for a noble cause and
contribute in this national endeavour. For any information on organ donation
and transplantation one can visit the website of NOTTO www.notto.mohfw.gov.in or
call tollfree helpline number 180114770. Online pladging facility is available
at aforesaid NOTTO website and also at https://pledge.mygov.in/organ-donation/.
The event was also attended by Dr Atul Goel, Director
General of Health Services, Dr Anil Kumar, Director, NOTTO, donor families,
organ recipients, students as well as senior officials from the Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare.