Organ Donation-Maharashtra should UP the game!
Before I begin this blog on a very sensitive issue, I urge all you people to watch one Hindi movie at the earliest. “Mein Atal Hoon” is available on Zee5. Please do watch…You will understand how politics existed in the earlier days, how politicians respected each other even though they were from different ideologies. There was opposition too- but the methods were completely different, there was decency, there was mutual respect for the chair and there was humanity–unlike today–where I feel, at least in Maharashtra–the ’90’s era is back as I can see only gang-wars around me! See the movie for yourself to know why the great Late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, is a true Bharat Ratna!
Yes, today’s topic is not political but it has to do with it. The other day I called up a veteran journalist now working for the Central Government, Dr Uday Nirgudkar, to confirm if it is true that his name is considered for a Loksabha seat– to which he didn’t deny too, but it was him who got me to this important topic of organ donation.
He said, Vikrant, If you look around, you will find a lot of deaths are happening around us at a young age due to organ failures, and most importantly organs not being available at the right time and at the right price. Recently, one of our journalist friends too passed away at a very young age due to an organ failure. Even if the patient finds a donor and the transplant is happening, it is extremely costly, unaffordable to many. And mind you, we have the best doctors/surgeons available to do it, best hospitals and best after-care centres too–but we lack in the most important thing–the availability of donors, organs and the long wait to get your name at the top of the list for the receiver. By the time the name appears in the list, the person has already passed away. That is why people rush to Southern states of India or Srilanka or Singapore for the majority of the transplants. Remember an ex Chief Minister of Maharashtra was in Chennai for the longest of time before he passed away. Imagine, he was the CM!!
Now we all know the problem that even if we have everything, we don’t have the basic thing i.e. the donor at the right time and easy availability of organs as it is a complex procedure. 1000’s of NGOs are working in this aspect but the progress is not up there. Dr. Uday Nirgudkar and I were discussing this before an idea struck him during this phone call. He said, Vikrant, what is the basic problem of people and their relatives and why arent many actually coming ahead and donating their organs ? It is to a smaller extent the scare, sanctity and religious belief’s right that stop them from donating the organs right? The biggest reason why we both felt for donors walking away, is “recognition” of what a great job the dying person or the immediate relative is not given. I quipped immediately, yes!! No certificate or money is enough for the dying person or the relatives. Then how do we get Maharashtra at the top in this only field, but yet the most necessary field. We have to imbibe “PRIDE” in the donor and how do we do it?
Nothing special, the Government of Maharashtra has to increase awareness and give respect and honour to the donor and his family. The state government should give FULL STATE HONOURS in the last rites of the donor. Along with the state honours, we should give family a small appreciation certificate, the remains should be carried wrapped in a flag ,the Collector or the Guardian Minister or that area’s MLA or MP whosoever available should be present during the final rites and if possible, try and give the kin a Government job if the family is really in need. In Mumbai if this sort of respect and recognition is given to the donor it surely can create a positive atmosphere for people willing to donate, can you just imagine the family reputation and respect it will earn in the village? At many times in our lives, all we need is recognition and a pat on the back when we do something good!
This will see a major push in citizens coming ahead for organ donations. See in the rural side or even city side, 90% of people spend their lives without getting any recognition howsoever rich or poor they are. If they know, by one donation, if my family gets that respect that a freedom fighter or any big person gets, believe me, more and more people will get motivated and come ahead and it can save a lot of lives as organs will be available in plenty and for the patient at the right time.
It is very sad that people go just because they didn’t get a transplant on time!!
Do think about it…Government of Maharashtra!
Vikrant Hemant Joshi.
