Collaborate with Fortis Organ Retrieval & Transplant (FORT)
NewZNew (S A S Nagar) : It was a beautiful way of putting across the message – an artist’s way of expressing the view ‘Why should you pledge your organs’. In collaboration with Fortis Hospital Mohali, nearly 30 students from Government College of Art, Sector 10, Chandigarh, on Monday gave finishing touches to their posters and sculptures to raise awareness about organ donation. The theme of their thought-provoking artwork ‘Why should you pledge your organs’ has been adopted for this year by Fortis Organ Retrieval and Transplant (FORT), an initiative by Fortis Healthcare that offers a 24-hour referral service for organ and tissue donation.
The artworks were displayed in the hospital auditorium for a team of judges to decide the winners in each category. The judges were Mr Ashish Bhatia, Regional Director (North), Fortis Healthcare Ltd, Dr Sumangal Roy, Head- Department of Sculpture, Government College of Art, Sector 10, Chandigarh and Dr Jayanti Dutta, Deputy Director, Human Resource Development Centre, Panjab University, Chandigarh.
The first prize of Rs 6100 in the poster making competition was bagged by Rajesh Kumar. The 2nd and third prize went to Anjali Gaur and Anisha, respectively. The consolation prize for sculpture was bagged by Shabir Hassan.
In her motivational talk, Dr Parvinder Chawla, Consultant – Internal Medicine, exhorted the gathering to work towards making organ donation a mass movement on the lines of the highly successful blood donation movement.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Ashish Bhatia, Regional Director (North), Fortis Healthcare Ltd, said, “Fortis Organ Retrieval & Transplant (FORT) has been created with an aim to promote and streamline the process of organ donation following brain death. The role envisaged for FORT includes 24-hour referral service for organ and tissue donation, assistance with documentation and procedures related to organ and tissue donation, family counseling and support, organ pledging facility and registry.” In India, the current organ donation rate is 0.26 donors per million population as compared to more than 30 donors per million in some western countries, he said, adding, “There is a serious shortage of organs and the gap between the number of organs donated and the number people waiting for transplants is ever increasing. This is where you can help by pledging to donate your organs,” Mr Bhatia said.
Dr Sumangal Roy, Head- Department of Sculpture, Government College of Art, Sector 10, said, “We are happy to be associated with Fortis Hospital Mohali in such a noble venture of raising awareness about organ donation. Donating one’s organs is an extraordinary gift and we hope our students’ artworks can inspire many to become lifesavers.”
FAQs
- Who can pledge to donate organs?
Any person, aged 18 or above, by signing a donor card can pledge to donate his or her organs after brain death.
- What is brain death?
Head injury, stroke, brain tumour or other serious illnesses may result in irreversible damage to the brain with cessation of brain steam function, even as the heart continues to beat for some time. Such a patient is termed brain dead. Even though the heart is beating, a brain dead person is medically and legally dead and cannot recover.
- What organs can be donated?
A single donor can save several lives by donating the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas and small bowel.
- Can organs be donated after normal death?
No. Once the heart stops beating, blood supply to vital organs is cut off and donation is not possible. However, several tissues like the heart valves, eardrums, bones, menisci, tendons and skin can still be donated up to a few hours after normal death.
- Does organ donation leave the body disfigured?
No. Organs are removed with the greatest care and dignity by a team of specially trained surgeons.
- What does the law say about organ donation?
The Transplantation of Human Organs Act and Rules, as amended from time to time, recognises the concept of brain death and gives legal sanction for diagnosis of brain death and deceased organ donation.
- Is the family asked for permission for donation even if a signed donor card is found?
Yes. The donor card has no legal standing. Therefore, it is important that you share your decision with your family members so that it is easier for them to carry out your wish.