AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

‘Even after your death you can help saving lives of many terminally ill

patients” said Dr. Aarti Vij, Head ORBO, to audience at awareness

programme on human body and organ donation. The programme was

organized jointly by AAPLI AAPULKI and India International Centre on 26

th Aug 2009.

The programme was result of initiative by Dr Kavita Sharma, Director, India International Centre.

Sh Satish Kapoor, Director of Brotherhood – an NGO in advocacy of disability thru media - welcomed the Chairperson of day. Sh Unmesh Pahade, SDM, Govt of Delhi, Dr J M Kaul, Head, Dept of Anatomy and Dr Aarti Vij.  Satish Kapoor brought out parallel between disability which is an external phenomenon and disease which are internal alterations of structures.

Sh Pahade set the ball in motion highlighting on consent for donation.

Dr Vij gave insight into working of ORBO (Organ Retrieval Banking

Organization) and its achievements. These include first heart transplantation in India and combined kidney and pancreas transplantation. Dr Kaul informed that Cadaver – mortal remains – are essential for giving the actual feel of human touch and structure to upcoming doctors. The cadavers are also required to teach usage of instruments to doctors. According to her, while one body is required for four students, in India around 30 students work on single body. She however expressed satisfaction that over 30 bodies were received by MAMC in last three years which has facilitated less students per body.

Sh Pahade and Dr Vij somewhat lightened the atmosphere of otherwise

serious discussions by narrating anecdotes during students life in medical college.

Ms Preeti Unhale a recipient of heart narrated her experience. Sh Debashish Mukherjee and Ms Rubina Pandit, students of MAMC spoke on how cadaver helped them in understanding human body.

The audience put across wide range of queries to speakers covering various facets related to organ and body donation. The speakers unanimously expressed the need of hour is not just to get the pledges filled up but actually spread the message of real needs.

Vijayanta read out Hindi version of poem Mendu Mrut originally scripted in

Marathi by Dr Kailash Jawade, a transplant surgeon himself.