Nearly 17 people die every day waiting for an organ transplant. With so many people requiring organs, the availability of organ donors remains a challenge. One primary reason for a low organ donation rate is the lack of awareness among people, leading to several misconceptions. World organ donation day, is celebrated on 13 August every year. It is an occasion to make people aware of the significance of organ donation and motivate them to do the same. It encourages people to donate their organs after death and save the lives of several other people.
The following blog discusses the history and significance of World Organ Donation day, along with the myths associated with organ donation. Continue reading to find out.
While a healthy person can donate some organs or part of their organs, like liver, kidney, or lung, most organs are retrieved from a deceased person. As mentioned above, a deceased person’s organs can save up to eight lives. These organs include:
Organ donors can be of two types:
Now that we know the basics of organ donation let’s understand the history and significance of World Organ Donation Day.
The world observes and celebrates organ donation day on 13 August. Medical science has evolved quickly, and successful organ transplants are performed every day. However, the first account of organ donation and transplantation goes back to 1954, when Joseph Murray retrieved a kidney from a living donor and performed a kidney transplant between twin brothers Ronald Lee Herrick and Richard Lee Herrick. With further advances in medical science, several other complex and famous historical transplants have taken place:
Since the introduction of organ transplants, it has helped save millions of lives worldwide.
Being an organ donor is your personal choice. However, it is a noble deed that every eligible individual should consider. On Organ Donation Day, create awareness about the importance of donating organs and inspire people to do the same. You can pledge your organs by filling out an online form on the official website of NOTTO (the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation). You will then receive your donor card with a unique government registration number.
If you have any more queries regarding the process of organ donation and transplantation, you can consult an expert at HexaHealth. Our team of doctors will guide you through the complete process and help you connect with the best doctors. So pledge your organs TODAY, and give someone a second chance at life!
World Organ Donation Day is celebrated on 13 August every year to raise awareness about the significance of organ donation. Some other objectives of the day are to:
Ronald Lee Herrick was the first ever person to donate an organ. He donated a kidney to his twin brother Richard Lee Herrick in 1954. Dr Joseph Murray carried out this successful organ transplantation.
Organ donation started in India with the enactment of the Transplantation of Human Organs Act (THOA) in 1994. The law provided a system to remove, store, and transplant human organs. The first liver transplant in India happened in 1998 at Delhi’s Apollo Hospital.
International organ donation day is celebrated on 13 August every year. The purpose of this day is to spread awareness about organ donation.
Organ donation has several benefits, including:
There are two types of organ donation:
The organs that can be donated after death include:
Organ donation was started by Ronald Lee Herrick, who donated a kidney to his twin brother in 1954. The procedure was carried out by Dr Joseph Murray, who won a Nobel Prize for his pioneering work in 1990.
NOTTO stands for the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation. It is a national-level organisation that regulates organ donation and transplantation in India.
Last Updated on: 29 November 2022
MBBS, DNB General Surgery, Fellowship in Minimal Access Surgery, FIAGES
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Dr Aman Priya Khanna is a well-known General Surgeon, Proctologist and Bariatric Surgeon currently associated with HealthFort Clinic, Health First Multispecialty Clinic in Delhi. He has 12 years of experience in General Surgery and worke...View More
BDS (Panjab University) I MBA Hospital & Health Management (IIHMR Jaipur)
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She is a high-impact healthcare management and medical content professional with enriching work experience in Parexel, HexaHealth Technologies, Apollo Munich, Credihealth and Fortis Hospital. Armed with deep and c...View More