Mangaluru: Students from open electives journalism of Alva’s College organised “Organ Donation Awareness Programme and Pledge camp” at Sundari Ananda Alva campus, Moodabidri on Thursday March 10. The programme was held at the Kuvempu Hall of Alva’s Degree College.
Organ Donation India Foundation Chairman Lal Goel was the Chief guest.
Speaking on the occasion, he said, “we are not gods, but god has given us power to save and improvise 75 lives by donating our organs. He remembered that today is “World Kidney Day”. In India 5 lakh people are losing lives due to paucity of organs, while 2 lakh among them are dying due to non-availability of kidney. A person can donate one kidney when he is alive and the donation can be done only to relatives. A person can donate his organs after he/she is brain dead. Most of the brain dead cases are due to road accidents. In India every year 1,65,000 people die due to road accidents, and out of this, 1 lakh people are declared brain dead of which only 800 people’s organs are being donated, he said.
When compared to other countries in India many people die. In India we go to churches, mosques, temples and gurudwaras and make donations but still people are dying. We can donate money to religious places but not willing to donate organs. There are two form of organ donations, one is voluntary and the other is opting system. The opting system is in place in countries like UK and USA.
Further speaking about eye donation he said that Puneeth Rajkumar, the actor who died recently had donated his eyes and because of that four people got benefitted. For the first time in India using special technology Narayan Netralaya successfully transplanted Puneeth’s eyes to four blind people. He also said that for organ donation there is no age limit, and that any healthy person can donate. In UK, a child died within 74 minutes of birth, and its parents donated the organs. The oldest record of organ donation is 95 years old man who donated his organ, he informed.
He also praised students for taking initiative and organising such great programme. Then he also interacted with students and answered their questions.
Former Minister K. Abhayachandra Jain addressed the gathering and said, India’s death rate is high, and therefore the organ donation is very important. Asking others to donate is easy but when it comes to donating its difficult, he noted. He said in country like India organ donation is very important, and that everyone should donate. By donating organs we should be catalyst to saving lives. The awareness programme like these is very important. Before donating you should convince your family. On the occasion he also pledged to donate his organs.
The programme was Presided by Chairman of Alva’s Education Foundation Dr. M. Mohan Alva. In his presidential speech he spoke about the importance of organ donation and also said that we should keep our words, and end up donating organs. He also praised and congratulated students for their effort to spread awareness about organ donation.
Alva’s Degree College Principal Dr. Kurian said that I have pledged to donate my organs a year ago and I carry my donor card with me always so that I can show the card and inspire others too. He praised Lal Goel for his work. He also congratulated students.
State Organ Transplant Organisation (SOTO) co-ordinator Padma gave students information about how to pledge online and also distributed donor cards to those who have already pledged.
On behalf of the occasion various competitions were held, and the winners of that competition were awarded with certificates in the programme.
Students, and lecturers of various departments were present. More than 100 students and lecturers pledged to donate organs. Open elective student Vinutha hosted the programme.
