The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : “Encouraging growth in number of organ donors”

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 26, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

“Encouraging growth in number of organ donors”

Staff Reporter

Photo S. Thanthoni

Principal Secretary Health V.K. Subburaj honours Government General Hospital Dean J. Mohanasundaram at a programme organised by MOHAN Foundation in Chennai on Thursday. IT secretary P.W.C. Davidar is in the picture —

CHENNAI: The past two years have seen an encouraging growth in terms of the number of families coming forward to donate organs of their relatives who were declared ‘brain dead.' Tamil Nadu, especially, has taken a lead through its cadaver transplantation programme, speakers observed at a function organised by MOHAN Foundation to mark Organ Donation Day here on Thursday.

Felicitating some of the families, Principal Secretary, Health, V.K. Subburaj said the cadaver transplantation programme of the State government had created widespread awareness among people in the city. Of the nearly 10 lakh people suffering from various forms of kidney ailments in the country, nearly one lakh were in need of kidney transplant, he said.

There was need to create awareness about the programme among those living elsewhere in the State. Observing that the State has seen a quantum jump in the number of organ transplantation surgeries, Mr. Subburaj said the government was organising campaigns in various places to sensitise people to the need for organ donation.

IT Secretary P.W.C. Davidar said that it was laudable that the family members have donated the organs of their relatives despite battling extreme grief.

Earlier, prize-winning films on organ donations directed by students of various colleges in the city as part of the ‘Take 2 Ad Spot and Short Film competition' were screened at the function.

Distributing prizes to the students, director-cinematographer Rajeev Menon said the State has been proactive in encouraging organ donation and media played a crucial role in spreading the message.

Government General Hospital Dean J. Mohanasundaram was honoured for the hospital's initiative in promoting organ donation. MOHAN Foundation Trustee Sunil Shroff and Kilpauk Medical College Hospital Dean V.Kanagasabai spoke.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu