Executive Director at Martyrs Dharmabhakta National Organ Transplantation Centre, Dr Pukarchandra Shrestha, has said one brain death can be used for saving the lives of eight persons.
At a programme organized by Nepal Press Institute here Friday, Dr Shrestha said from one brain death, its organs can be transplanted into eight other persons. He added that kidney, lungs, liver, pancreas and small intestine can be removed from the brain-dead person and transplanted to others.
“Eight persons’ lives can be saved by a single brain death. So, if a person’s life is donated after death, it saves others,” he said, adding that people were hesitating to donate organs after their death due to lack of public awareness on it in Nepal.
The organ donation helps revive the lives of those with damaged organs.
According to Dr Shrestha, the Centre has so far conducted kidney transplantation on 900 persons while liver transplantation on nine persons. Similarly, eight persons have got kidney and two persons the liver from the brain-dead persons, he informed.
Recently, the Prime Minister and Members of the Council of Ministers have announced organ donation after life.
It was informed at the programme that 10 surgeons, nine physicians, three-member team including one transplantation coordinator and seven anesthesiologists are ready for organ transplantation round the clock at the Centre.
On the occasion, Minister for Health and Population Bhawani Prasad Khapung also admitted there is dearth of public awareness on importance of organ donation after one’s life. He shared the information that he had also donated the organ. “I’ve also declared that I would donate my organ after brain death,” he added.
Secretary at the Ministry, Dr Roshan Pokhrel, said government was planning to expand the service of kidney transplantation in all seven provinces.
Senior neurosurgeon Dr Basanta Pant viewed as a person faces brain death first and other organs die gradually, the other organs could be donated for saving lives. “After brain dies, other organs die gradually. Human body does not die at once,” he stressed, so the organ donation has huge significance.
On the occasion, senior journalist Kapil Kafle said mainstream media have failed to prioritize health related news.
Another noted journalist Rajendra Dahal viewed atmosphere should be created for the senior people to live dignified life. (RSS)
