How could the death of your near one be a cause of happiness for other families?

Perhaps this appears to be the most inhuman blog post title. But the fact is this is about one of the most human acts.

On 13th August India will be celebrating Organ Donation Awareness Day. Awareness about this vital aspect of our life is important. India is the 2nd highest populated country in the world. But only 0.5 person per million donates Organs as per 2013 survey.

In the USA 26 people per million donate the organ and in Croatia (which become famous during the last world cup), about 37 people per million donate their Organs. The population of Croatia is only 4 million people. The population of India is 1300 million people.

Why we need Organ Donation to accelerate?

India needs 2,00,000 Cornea donations every year, we get 50,000 donations,

India needs 2,20,000 kidneys, kidneys donated is 5,000, India needs 5,000 hearts, hearts donated is 70, India needs 2,00,000 liver, liver donated is 750.

5 Lakh people die due to the non-availability of Organs.

Who can donate  Organs ?

A person who has met with a fatal head injury and is declared brain dead by a board of medical experts can donate organs. In India, a panel of 4 doctors is required to certify whether a person is brain dead.

Brain death, technically referred to as brain-stem death, occurs when the whole brain dies. It is the irreversible end of all brain activity.

If the body of a brain-dead person is kept on a ventilator, the heart may continue to beat for 2-3 days and keep vital organs such as the liver and kidney alive for this time period. These organs can be surgically removed for donation.

Living people too can donate organs in a limited way.

There is a misconception that after the death Organs can be donated by anyone. The fact is after the cardiac death only skin, eyes, and heart valves can be donated. Donation of vital organs is not possible once the heart stops beating.

Vital organ donation is possible only when the person is in the hospital, on a ventilator and brain death happens.

The good news is anyone from the newborn to the 95-year-old can donate the organs.

Which Organs can be donated?

Organs like the heart, liver, kidneys, tissues, skin, corneas and bone marrow, can be donated.

These organs have a limited lifespan outside the body.

Heart	4-6 hours
Liver	12-24 hours
Kidney	48-72 hours
Heart	4-6 hours
Lung	4-6 hours

The different organs that can be transplanted depend on the type of organ transplant i.e. whether the donor is alive or deceased.

How can one donate Organs?

Ideally, a person should declare his intent to donate his Organs to his immediate family members. This helps the family members to take a quick decision on the death of the person.

There are many NGOs working to create awareness about this noble cause. They make the people who wish to donate their Organs to sign the pledge forms.

Thereafter on the brain death of the person, the Hospital is informed about the intent of the donor. The hospital takes the necessary steps to successfully remove the Organs, identify the recipient from the waiting list.

There is no cost to the family members of the donor.

Important: Each brain dead person can save seven lives. Donor’s heart, pancreas, and liver can one life each. Kidneys and lungs can save two lives each.

The donation of tissues such as corneas, skin, bone and heart valves can save up to 50 lives.

What can you do now?

Pledge to donate your organs, TODAY.

Inform your immediate family members about your intent.

Spread the words and create awareness.

You may also like to read: Are you living to earn or earning to live?