Monday, 30 August 2021 | Purnima Bisht | Dehradun
Lack of proper education and awareness among people about organ donation along with the associated superstitions and spiritual beliefs are among the major causes for the low number of organ donors in Uttarakhand. According to medical experts, organ donation can save several lives every year but due to the imbalance in demand and supply of organs, many lose their lives. Many remain reluctant to register for organ donation after their death due to various reasons but superstition is the prominent cause influencing most of the potential organ donors in the state.
“I would like to donate my organs after my death but I believe in rebirth and I do not want to be born without the donated organs in my next life,” said 50 year old Haridwar resident Kasturi Rawat. There is also a section of people which is interested in being an organ donor but doubts whether their donated organs will be provided to those in need. “I have no qualms in saying that I do not have full faith in our health system and authorities. What is the guarantee that my donated organs will be provided to someone in need and will not be sold at higher profits to rich people? Such thoughts stop me from registering myself as an organ donor but I might do it in future,” said 25 year old law student Dewas Verma. Besides this, there are many people who want to be an organ donor but are not aware of the process of getting registered as the donor. “I would like to be an organ donor but I am not aware where and who I need to approach to be an organ donor,” said Ramnagar resident Meena Khulbe.
Informing about the organ donation process the state secretary of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Dr Ajay Khanna stated that organ donation is a noble cause and several lives can be saved with a single person’s donated organs but due to lack of awareness and certain cultural belief, not many come forward to be organ donors. He said that hardly one to two per cent of the state’s population register as organ donors which has started in the recent few years too. Khanna said that to be an organ donor, any adult aged 18 years to 75 years can register himself or herself as a donor in government hospitals like Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) hospital in Dehradun. “Organ donation can save several lives and people should come forward to give others a gift of life after they die,” said the IMA secretary.
