Under a humanitarian engagement program, Lovely Professional University (LPU) organized organ donation awareness session virtually. Eminent speakers were Chief Executive Officer, Organ India, Sunayana Arora Singh; and, Co-Chair, Gift an Organ, Surbhi Bajaj. The awareness session was attended by hundreds of LPU students and staff members belonging to all Indian states and 40 countries. During the session, a vivid presentation on the philanthropic cause of ‘Organ Donation’ was made. The virtual event witnessed an enthusiastic response with many students consenting online for organ donation.Responding to prevalent myths, misconceptions and facts, the speakers sensitized participants about the noble cause in the real sense of the words. Myth is that a person with a history of chronic illness cannot donate organs; reality explained by a resource person is that very few medical conditions disqualify a patient from donating organs. Similarly, an old donor considers that his organs are too old to be donated; whereas, fact is that age is just a number. Starting with basics of the donation processes, it was told that organs including Kidneys, Heart, Liver, Lungs, Intestines, Pancreas; and, tissues including Corneas, Valves, Bones, Tendons, Skin, Ligaments can be donated for making life of needy ones meaningful.It was also shared that the gap between demand and supply of “organs” is fast increasing.
Intensified and impactful awareness campaigns, as such, are needed to reduce this gap. People must come forward, pledge their organs and keep their families informed about their decision. Such moves will save thousands of persons who die only for want of organs. It was also informed that persons per million of the population who donate organs in India is very low in comparison to other countries like the USA, UK, Spain and more.Ms Sunayana expressed that organ donations need more attention and awareness and for this masses need to be educated and sensitised. Appreciating the LPU initiative, she held: “Organ Donation is a social responsibility and we must all collaborate and synergize to make such endeavours great success. LPU has indeed set an example for other institutions to follow.” She also expressed that a donor must be aware of which organs can be donated as not all organs are usable once a person dies. According to her, most people don’t realise that one can donate vital organs, such as the heart, only after they are declared brain dead by a doctor in a hospital.CII-Yi India (Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)-Young Indians); SEEC-Student Entertainment & Event Management Cell at LPU; and, NSS Volunteers had joined hands for successful outcome of the important awareness session.