Over 1.5L await kidney transplant, only 5K donors: Need for awareness, say experts

Bhopal: ‘Organ donor can play a big role in saving others’ life’, was stressed by recipient of organ donation here at an event on the eve of ‘National Organ Donation Day’.

Organisors said it is a way to dispel myths and fears in peoples’ mind about organ donation. “We are trying to motivate people to pledge to donate organs after death. Spreading awareness about the importance of organ donation can be best understood by a donor family or a recipient.”

Around 5 lakh people die because of non-availability of organs, of these about two lakh people die due to liver disease, and 50,000 die because of heart diseases. Around 1.5 lakh people await a kidney transplant but only 5,000 get among them, according to government estimates.

During the programme to mark the National Organ Donation Day, beneficiaries and family members of donors interacted with each other. In Madhya Pradesh, cadaveric organs like heart, liver, kidneys, intestines, lungs and pancreas have been successfully transplanted.