Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: In a significant moment for organ donation, Goa marked its fifth successful contribution led by SOTTO at GMC. The family of a man declared brain dead generously donated his kidneys, offering a renewed lease of life to two recipients who successfully underwent transplantation at GMC.
The first organ donation of 2024 took place at Goa Medical College, where a 40-year-old native from Jharkhand, who had been living and working in Goa for five months, suffered a severe head injury due to a fall and was declared brain dead by the braindeath certification panel of experts approved by the state appropriate authority Neurolgist Dr Sanath Bhatkar and Internal Medicine physician Dr. Prathamesh.
In the moment of their deepest grief, the donor’s family made a brave decision to donate his organs, providing a new lease of life to patients suffering from end stage kidney failure.
Due to medical reasons, only the kidneys were viable and suitable for transplantation.
SOTTO Goa allocated the kidneys to two patients registered at Goa Medical College as per their priority ranking on the waiting list based on purely medical criteria.
Health Minister Vishwajit rane tweeted, “Kudos to the remarkable teamwork of our GMC and its dedicated doctors, highlighting the heartening sight of individuals stepping forward for organ donation. This altruistic act is undeniably the most significant gift one can offer to humanity, showcasing the power of collective compassion and generosity.”
Since the inception of NAVE JIVIT, the deceased Donor Organ Transplant Programme of SOTTO Goa Medical College, there have been five organ donations in the state.
These donations have given a new lease of life to 19 people suffering from end-stage organ failure by donating 3 hearts, 4 livers and 2 lungs across various parts of India. Since only kidney transplant facility is available in our state of Goa, all of the 10 donated kidneys have been successfully transplanted to patient’s enlisted at registered Goa transplant hospitals.
Organ donation is a noble act that can help save the lives of several people in need. A brain stem dead person is a comatose patient in who all the functions of the brainstem viz Breathing and consciousness has PERMANENTLY and IRREVERSIBLY ceased.
This is death by neurological criteria as per THOA 1994. Braindeath is death just as it is death in the cardiopulmonary sense. Such a patient can save upto 8 lives through Organ Donation and help 75 others through Tissue Donation.
Currently, there are 51 patients on the waiting list for deceased donor kidney transplant programme in Goa. It is important for people to step forward and Say YES to Organ Donation.
In doing so, you can help save the lives of several people in need and give them a second chance at life. It is a big step towards making a giant difference in someone’s life.
