HOPE Trust campaign on organ donation

Addressing the concern over lack of awareness and misconceptions on the concept of organ donation, HOPE Trust organized a special awareness campaign on the 11th of August, 2002 at New Delhi. The objective was to sensitise the public and to arrive at consensus on various issues at different levels - public, medical practitioners and Ministry of Health. The guest of honour was the Hon'ble. Minister for Health for Delhi state, Dr A.K. Walia. He also released the first issue of the quarterly newsletter, 'Vital Spark'. HOPE is a non-government, charitable trust organization created to popularise the concept of organ donation after brain death. It was born out of frustration of patients, legal professionals and treating doctors to solve the issues of disparity between the need for human organs and tissues for transplant and the availability of the same through a legally sound process of organ donation after brain death. The focus of the Trust is aimed at working as a "Support Group" for patients, physicians and public. The programme included a public debate on all burning issues related to organ donation, first 'Newsletter' launch and a film show on the theme of organ donation ('To be or not to be'). The issues on debate and discussion included: Organ donation for commerce, legal incentives for cadaver organ donation, the legal loop holes in the organ transplant act-1994, public attitude to cadaver organ donation and many more current issues on the subject. The panelists for the discussion on 'Organ Donation: Awareness, Problems and Pitfalls' included: Ms. Renuka Chowdhary, MP, Dr. S.P. Agarwal, DGHS, Ms. Rani Jethmalani, Supreme Court Advocate, Dr. Samiran Nundy, GI Surgeon, Dr. M.R. Rajasekar, Transplant Surgeon, Dr. V.S. Mehta, Neurosurgeon, Ms. Tanuja Joshi, Director, Eye Bank. Dr. A.S. Soin, Transplant Surgeon and Dr. A. Sibal, Liver Physician who moderated the panel.
The Possible Solutions suggested were:

• Increase public awareness regarding brain death, benefits of organ donation and transplantation in the form of books, brochures, talks, seminars, electronic and print media campaigns
• Launching countrywide donor cards
• Religious leaders should actively be involved in awareness programme to dispel doubts
• Better infrastructure/sharing network/database/registry
• Trained Transplant Coordinators
• CMEs for hospital staff of all levels
• Proper protocols / guidelines
• All involved should be given due recognition

There are many issues that come in the way of organ donation. The public needs to be educated on the same, only then could a feasible platform for organ donation be achieved. HOPE trust has taken steps to build one such platform that will pave the way to clearing obstacles to the processes of organ donation which could potentially save several hundred lives.