On World Organ Donation Day, Medanta Hospital, in collaboration with the Mohan Foundation, hosted a powerful exhibit at Medanta - The Medicity in Gurugram.
In a press statement on Tuesday, the hospital informed that the exhibit, titled "Life Before Ashes," featured four organ replicas made from ashes—representing the heart, kidney, liver, and lung—to drive home the crucial message of organ donation.
The display was spearheaded by Medanta Gurugram's renowned transplant specialists: Dr. Anil Bhan, Dr. Arvind Kumar, Dr. Rajesh Ahlawat, and Dr. A.S. Soin. It was designed to provoke thought and encourage visitors to consider the life-saving potential of organ donation.
Organ donation has the potential to save 7-8 lives per donor. However, the disparity between the need for transplants and the number of available organs remains severe. In India, approximately 1,80,000 people face kidney failure annually, yet only 6,000 transplants are conducted. Similarly, the country performs around 1,500 liver transplants each year out of the 25,000 to 30,000 required, and only 10 to 15 heart transplants are carried out despite a demand from 50,000 people with end-stage heart failure. Cornea transplants also fall short, with 25,000 performed annually against a need of 1,00,000.
This gap in organ availability leads to the tragic loss of over 5,00,000 lives each year in India due to end-stage diseases. The shortage is exacerbated by misconceptions about organ donation, including fears of body desecration and concerns about financial implications for donor families.
The "Life Before Ashes" exhibit aims to shift perceptions and highlight the importance of organ donation. It serves as a poignant reminder that the ashes on display could have been vital organs for someone in need if they had been donated.
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