CSIR-IIIM observes Indian Organ Donation Day

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 3: CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, organised a special programme to observe ‘Indian Organ Donation Day’ here today, during which various activities like pledge taking ceremony, lectures to disseminate the information among the stakeholders regarding organ and tissue donation were held.
Dr Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-IIIM, while addressing the staff and students on the occasion, said that statistically the rate of organ donation in India is 0.86 per million which is one of the lowest in the world. He also informed that according to an estimate, the total annual requirement of organs is 5.0 lakh whereas the organs available for donation are very less thus creating a huge difference between the requirement and availability, which is mainly attributed to lack of awareness, certain myths and misconception. “Organising of Indian Organ Donation day as part of Angdaan Mahotsav campaign, taking pledge to donate organ are the means to spread awareness among the society,” he added.
Dr Ahmed also administered the pledge to whole staff and students for donating the organs and tissues, so that those in need of these organs can get a new life.
Later, Dr Amit Sharma, Medical Officer at IIIM Dispensary delivered a lecture and through a Power Point presentation, gave an insight into various aspect of organ and tissue donation at national level. He mentioned that there are various organisations like National, State and Regional level Organ, Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO, SOTTO, RTTO) those coordinate and facilitate the organ donation in India. He also talked about the hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir that are authorized as transplant centres.
The staff and students in large number also filled up forms for organ donation to support this noble cause.
Among other present on the occasion, were Er Abdul Rahim, Chief Scientist and Head RMBD & IST Division; Vikram Singh, Sr Controller of Administration; Dr Asha Chaubey, Dr Dhiraj Vyas, Dr Sumit Gandhi, Dr Qazi Naved Ahmed and Dr Deepika Singh (HODs).