‘Educated people lack awareness of organ donation’

Emphasising the importance of organ donation on the National Organ Donation Day on Saturday, the Department of Posts, Madurai division, conducted an awareness run.

Emphasising the importance of organ donation on the National Organ Donation Day on Saturday, the Department of Posts, Madurai division, conducted an awareness rally.

About 70 postal staff and officials, with placards and banners carrying messages about the importance of organ donation, participated in the rally that started at Tallakulam Head Post Office and ended at World Tamil Sangam.

Speaking about organ donation, S. Jagapriya, Organ Transplant In-charge, Government Rajaji Hospital, said it was sad to see people lacking knowledge about the importance of organ donation.

“Many stereotypical factors like religion, caste, beliefs and fear prevent people from thinking about their organs’ value when they are transplanted to some people who are in need of continuing their lives,” she said.

Stating that the difference in the ratio of recipients and donors was extremely stark, she said, “The relatives of only about two out of 20 people who are declared brain dead are coming forward to donate organs.”

“As we are witnessing a rapid change in lifestyle and food intake, new health conditions and diseases seem to emerge. So, we witness the increase in number of patients who are in need of organs,” she added.

While cornea donation had made a significant change in society due to more people coming forward to donate their eyes, the necessary awareness for donation of other organs was still lacking, Ms. Jagapriya said.