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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : May 7, 2015 11:23 AM IST
Organ donation is still a very rare episode in the country mostly due to lack of awareness and various myths associated with it. However, the Tamil, Nadu has seen a surge of organ transplants owing to its state cadaver transplant programme to promote organ donations. In the past seven years, the state has seen 3519 organ transplantations. (Read: Why India still faces extreme shortage of organ donors?)
In a one of its kind transplant-athon, organs from five brain-dead patients were harvested in 36 hours across various hospitals of Apollo group in Chennai. 23 organs were harvested which give a new lease of life to needy patients.
'The well-meaning families have helped give people in end-stage organ failure a second chance to live, and in the act will inspire more people to donate organs,' Prathap Reddy, founder and chairman of Apollo Hospitals, told reporters on Wednesday. On Sunday night, five families agreed to donate organs of their loved ones declared brain dead. On Monday, the organs - five livers, ten kidneys, six corneas and two hearts - were harvested.
Ten transplant operations were conducted at Apollo Hospitals (five livers, one heart and four kidneys) while the other remaining organs were sent to different hospitals where needy patients were admitted. According to state health secretary J. Radhakrishnan, the programme was to create awareness on organ donation and not for publicity. He thanked the families who agreed to organ donation despite their hour of grief.
Lack of awareness about organ donation is one of the main reasons for people are hesitant to donate organs. Here's a guide that will help you and if you want to donate your organs here are few things you should know about cadaver donation:
A cadaver donation is one where a person pledges his/her organs after death. This is a system where the organs of the person are harvested after the person is declared brain dead. If you do pledge your organs there are a few things you should keep in mind:
Image source: Getty Images
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