Hyderabad: The encouraging response to Jeevandan, the organ donation scheme of the government, has helped secure 213 organs for recipients since inception.
However, awareness in the government circles as well as private organisations is rated at only 30 per cent and there are still many who are not aware of the scheme.
Senior official M. Anuradha said, “There still is a very big gap in terms of awareness. We need to organise more awareness camps. People also must be dedicated to donate organs.
There are 400 forms that have been filled, but when it comes to actual donation, when the person is brain dead, objections are raised by family members… they do not give their consent. Therefore, a complete consensus of consent is required. For this, we need to reach out to larger number of people.”
The awareness programmes are mostly carried out in hospitals and within government institutions. There is a strong need felt to reach out to different set-ups in the private sector and also colleges.
Currently, there are 1,031 patients registered in the kidney and liver waiting lists. The number of patients waiting for a kidney is 682, while 440 patients are in need of a liver in the combined state.
