The National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, has launched an awareness campaign titled “Angdaan Jeevan Sanjeevani Abhiyan” (Organ Donation—Life-Saving Campaign). The campaign is distributing an informative booklet in Hindi focused on the process and significance of organ donation as a life-saving procedure.
The initiative aims to address the persistent shortage of donated organs and encourage citizens to pledge their commitment to donation.
Understanding Organ Donation and Failure
Organ donation is the gift of an organ to an individual in the final stage of disease who requires an organ transplant. An organ transplant is a surgical procedure that replaces a failed organ with a healthy, functioning one.
Organ donation is possible in two ways:
- Living Donor: Donation of one part of an organ, such as one kidney or a segment of the liver.
- Deceased Donor: Donation of organs such as the kidney, liver, heart, and lungs.
Major causes of organ failure include:
- Kidney: Diabetes (high blood sugar), high blood pressure, blockages in the kidney or bladder tubes (like those caused by stones), and toxic medicines.
- Liver: Viral infections like Hepatitis B and C, alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and toxic drugs.
- Heart: Cardiomyopathy (diseases of the heart muscle).
Preventing Organ Damage
The booklet emphasizes that individuals can prevent organ damage by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Key preventative measures include:
- Maintaining a healthy body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 24.9.
- Avoiding all tobacco consumption, as it damages nearly every organ.
- Avoiding alcohol consumption, which harms the liver, heart, and brain.
- Getting vaccinated to prevent Hepatitis B.
- Avoiding environmental pollution and unnecessary medications, particularly pain relievers used for long periods, which can damage the kidneys and liver.
- Controlling diabetes and high blood pressure through yoga, meditation, regular walking, and diet control.
The Critical Role of Brain Stem Death (BSD)
Brain Stem Death (BSD), also known as brain death, occurs when the brain stem—the part of the brain that controls vital bodily functions like breathing —completely and irreversibly stops functioning. A person confirmed with BSD is legally and medically dead, even if machines maintain their heartbeat.
- Donor Group: A deceased donor who has been declared brain dead is the largest group of organ donors globally.
- Donation Scope: Following BSD, organs like the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and intestines can be donated with the aid of a ventilator, which keeps the organs working for a short time until transplantation can occur. Tissues like corneas, skin, and bones can also be donated.
- Confirmation: According to the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, a board of four doctors confirms BSD based on clinical tests, which are performed twice with a minimum interval of six hours in adults.
Organ Donation vs. Body Donation
The campaign distinguishes between organ and body donation:
- Organ and Tissue Donation: Aims to save multiple lives (organ donation) or improve the quality of life (tissue donation, such as restoring eyesight or healing burn injuries).
- Body Donation: Involves donating the entire body after natural/cardiac death for educational and research purposes.
Tissues (like corneas, skin, heart valves, and bones) can be donated after the heart stops beating, and must be donated within a few hours.
Making the Pledge
Pledging to donate is essential because living donors alone cannot meet the growing demand, and organs like the heart and lungs can only be donated by a deceased donor. Furthermore, organ donation through legal channels helps curb illegal organ trafficking.
To pledge an organ donation:
- The individual must be 18 years or older.
- The pledge should be made online via the official website.
- Aadhaar card number and OTP verification are required.
- The most crucial step is to inform the family or legal next of kin, as their consent is mandatory for organ donation after death, regardless of the pledge.
Citizens can contact NOTTO’s 24×7 toll-free helpline (1800-11-4770) for assistance with information and pledging. The ultimate goal is to encourage citizens to “Donate organs, save lives”.