A'bad numero uno in kidney donation

TNN, Nov 26, 2010, 03.30am IST

AHMEDABAD: Organ donation is certainly the highest expression of humanity and gratitude of gifting life to those in need. And, the city leads in the cadaver donation movement in the state. Of the 170 families, who decided to donate organs of their brain dead relatives so that others get a new life, 120 belonged to the city, revealed Dr HL Trivedi, director, Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre (IKDRC).

"Ahmedabad leads the country in cadaver organ donation with 120 families deciding to donate organs of their near and dear one's. In all, we at IKDRC have done 301 kidney transplants, which were obtained from cadaver donors. This is the highest number of transplants done through cadaver donation in India," Dr Trivedi said.

The other city following Ahmedabad is Surat, where 37 families donated organs of their brain dead relatives. While in Rajkot, 11 families donated organs of deceased relatives. Bhuj and Bhavnagar had one family each which contributed to the cause.

Dr Trivedi said that a programme has been organised on Saturday to mark the 'World Organ Donation Day' wherein the contribution of 28 families will be acknowledged, who have donated organs of their brain dead relatives to ailing people with kidney failures from June 2008 to June 2009 . "If the cadaver donors would not have come forward, most of the ailing patients would have to be on the waiting list for months, putting their lives at risk," Dr Trivedi said.

Three people from the state for rendering noteworthy contribution to this noble cause and taking forward the cadaver donation movement in Gujarat will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and 'Maharshi Dadhichi Seva Samman'. Surat-based industrialist Nilesh Mandlewala will be given the award for the year 2009 while the award for the year 2010 will be shared by medico-couple Dr Prashant and Vatsa Patel. "These people have done grass root level work in hospitals and brought awareness about cadaver donation," said Dr Trivedi. Volunteers who have supported patients suffering from kidney failure with blood and blood components will also be honoured.