With the Theme ‘Kidney Health -For Everyone Everywhere’ WKD observed at AJ Hospital

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With the Theme ‘Kidney Health – For Everyone Everywhere’ WKD observed at AJ Hospital

Mangaluru: To mark “World Kidney Day” (WKD) which takes place every year on second Thursday of March, AJ Hospital and Research Centre (AJFRC) organized an Awareness talk on the theme “Kidney Health- for Everyone Everywhere” at the conference hall, on Thursday, 14 March from 9.30 am -10.30 am

The programme began with invoking God’s blessings through a prayer song by Ms Vinodha and Ms Padmakanthi Jain, followed by welcome address by Dr Prashanth Marla- Medical Director at AJ Hospital. The programme was inaugurated by lighting the traditional lamp by Dr Prashanth Marla-Medical Director- AJHRC, along with Dean of AJIMS Dr Ashok Hegde, Dr Sachidananda -Medical Superintendent, Dr Amritha Shreeya-Consultant Microbiologist, Dr Ashwij Shreeyan-Intensive Care, among others.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Prashanth Marla said, ” World Kidney Day 2019 with the theme “Kidney Health-for everyone Everywhere” campaign urges everyone around the globe, from all cultures and ages, to keep fit and active. This campaign is a symbol to encourage people to maintain a minimum level of physical activity in any way they can, with their own means and frequency, regardless of their physical condition. Small steps can make a difference to keep healthy kidneys and we value every single effort. We should not celebrate WKD only one day, but observe it every single day to bring awareness and prevent Kidney diseases”.

Dr Marlka further said, “The World Kidney Day Team passionately believes it is important we make the general public aware of kidney diseases which affect millions of people worldwide, including many children who may be at risk of kidney disease at an early age. It is therefore crucial that we encourage and facilitate education, early detection and a healthy life style in children, starting at birth and continuing through to old age, to combat the increase of preventable kidney damage including acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease and to treat children with inborn and acquired disorders of the kidney. Adults also need to take preventive measures when it comes to kiodney diseases. So, while we are observing WKD, let’s join forces once again in informing the public of the importance of identifying and treating kidney diseases, instilling an awareness of the risks for their future from kidney damage that originates in them, therefore building healthier future generations! Let’s make much use of this awareness programme today”

Talking on “Cadaveric Organ Donation (COD) which is the need of the Need of the Hour”, Dr Prashanth Marla sai, “There are millions of people who end up in end stage kidney failure, for which transplantation is the best option. Each cadaveric donor can give fresh lease of life to about 50 people, but in India only Liver, Kidneys, Heart valve, Heart and Corneal donations are common.What is brain dead? If a person with head injury, where all the organs function normally except the brain stem (an irreversible condition) is neurologically defined as “brain dead”. Their heart beats but the lungs need to be expanded by mechanical ventilatory support to maintain body oxygenation. If left, patient would be dependent on ventilator forever till the heart seizes / stops its function. I am overwhelmed that this project that I implemented at AJHRC has been successful, and already few COD have taken place at AJHRC”.

” Cadaveric donation comprises organ donation—that is, taking organs (heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas) from brain dead people, as well as tissue donation, meaning taking tissues (skin, corneas, tendons, bone) from brain dead as well as heart dead people. Human to human transplantation of organs has been accepted by healthcare professionals all over the world as the best, and often the only one for a wide range of fatal diseases such as end stage kidney failure. It has been one of the greatest advances of medical science that has resulted in many people getting a renewed lease of life. Experts say that the organs from one donor can save as many as 8 lives”.

“Organ donation is fast developing into a major treatment protocol. However, it is yet to make a significant dent in India. Every year, hundreds of people die while waiting for an organ transplant. Due to lack of awareness and misconceptions, there is a shortage of organ donors, and with each passing year, the gap between the number of organs donated and the people waiting for organ donation is getting larger. Almost 1.75 lakh people in India need a kidney; however, less than 5000 of them receive one, Only 1 out of 30 people who need a kidney receive one, 90% of people in the waiting list die without getting an organ”

“However, this concept of COD has not caught on well in India for want of public education and awareness. Here are key reasons for the shortage of organ donors in India : Ignorance and Lack of Knowledge – There is a major lack of awareness about cadaveric organ transplant in India, and people would come forth if they received more information and ways to register for organ donation., Myths and Beliefs – The Indian society, mired in traditional beliefs, is not very amenable to the idea of cadaver organ transplants. What they fail to realize is that in a country with a long waiting list of transplants, they are spoiling the chance of someone leading a normal life, just because they want to consign the whole body to last rites, Expressing one’s wish to donate – Failure to record one’s wish about organ donation after death with a health care facility or with family members also is a major reason for the shortage of donors in India. I am glad that AJHRC is constantly coming out with various awareness projects on COD, so that citizens can come forward and donate their organs” added Dr Marla.

During the occasion, Sunil Hegde, a living Renal recipient gave his experience of the organ transplant surgery he had at AJHRC. Five members of the family of Harinaksha M, namely Krishnappa Poojary, Sathish, Ramesh, Vittal and Ms Pushpa were honored with mementos and flower, for agreeing for the organs donation of Harinaksha, which has saved many lives. Ms padmakanth proposed the vote of thanks, while Ms Sonal Sophia Fernandes of Ist MHA professionally compered the programme. A Mime show on Kidney Donation was performed by the students of AJIMS

I end this report with a thought-provoking and appropriate poem ” To Remember Me” by American Poet Robert N. Test, pertaining to “Organ Donation”

“Give my sight to the man who has never seen a sunrise, a baby’s face, or love in the eyes of a woman.

Give my heart to a person whose own heart has caused nothing but endless days of pain.

Give my blood to the teenager who was pulled from the wreckage of his car, so that he might live to see his grandchildren play.

Give my kidneys to one who depends on a machine to exist from week to week.

Take my bones, every muscle, every fiber and nerve in my body and find a way to make a crippled child walk.

If you must bury something, let it be my faults, my weaknesses, and all prejudice against my fellow man.

Give my sins to the devil.

Give my soul to God.

If, by chance, you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word to someone who needs you. If you do all I have asked, I will live forever.”

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