Awareness about organ donation low among city residents: study

A study conducted by the health panels of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Young Indians (Yi) on “Myths and misconceptions about organ transplantation and tissue donation in Coimbatore” found low level of awareness among the public about organ and tissue donation.

As per the study, 42 % of respondents who took part in the survey believed that only eyes can be donated, followed by heart (14%), kidney (12%), and lungs (9%).

The survey was conducted among 1,117 people (394 females and 723 males) in 33 out of 100 wards in Coimbatore by a research team formed by the health panels of CII and Yi in August 2018.

While 42 % of people learnt about organ/tissue donation from the media, 29 % were informed by friends.

A vast majority of the respondents (64%) were of the view that consent from family was essential for organ harvesting and 73 % had a clear idea that their religion never restrains them from donating organs.

R. Kanthimathi, member secretary of Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu, released the study at the fourth edition of the ‘Gift an Organ’ initiative of CII and Yi here on Sunday.

Dr. Kanithimathi said that Tamil Nadu was the forerunner in organ donation in the country. The State was also the Regional Organ Tissue Transplant Organisation (ROTTO) for southern States.

“The unity and cooperation extended by the private hospitals for cadaver organ harvesting and transplantation in Coimbatore has been exemplary,” Dr. Kanithimathi said.

R.V. Ramani, convenor of CII-Healthcare panel in Coimbatore, M. Ramesh, chairman of CII-Coimbatore zone, S. Rajasabapathy of Ganga Hospital, Dipender Singh, chairman of Young Indians in Coimbatore, Orator Suki Sivam, and S. Shrikumaravelu, chairman of Yi's Health vertical in Coimbatore, spoke.