CM calls for greater awareness, collaboration on organ donation

Srinagar, Feb 24: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday called for greater awareness and collaboration on organ donation.

Addressing the inaugural session of the two-day event SAMAGAM-2025, organised by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), New Delhi in collaboration with the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO), J&K, at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Center (SKICC), he lauded the efforts of medical experts and institutions in saving lives.

CM Omar, who was the chief guest at the event, commended the organisers and acknowledged the exemplary work of SKIMS, Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, and GMC Jammu in the field of kidney and corneal transplants.

He urged these institutions to intensify their efforts towards initiating cadaveric organ donation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Emphasising the need for wider awareness and acceptance of organ donation, the CM suggested that medical experts should collaborate with religious scholars and other stakeholders to foster informed discussions and reach a consensus on the subject.

He assured full government support in strengthening these institutions to promote a healthier society.

CM Omar also highlighted the adverse effects of self-medication, lifestyle diseases, and lack of physical activity, urging people to adopt healthier habits.

He also felicitated ambassadors of organ and tissue donation from Kashmir, including the family of late Dr Manzoor Ahmed, former Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at GMC Srinagar and a renowned eye surgeon.

His eyes were donated posthumously by fellow ophthalmologists Dr Khurshid Ahmad and Dr Seema Mian.

Additionally, Heenu Mushtaq, a kidney transplant recipient leading a healthy life, was also felicitated.

The event featured expert deliberations on various aspects of organ donation and transplantation besides presenting the present scenario of organ donation in India, the evolution of cadaveric organ donation and transplantation, Islam, and organ and tissue donation and cadaveric organ donation in J&K as a way forward.

Director General Health Services, Government of India, Dr Atul Goel; Director NOTTO, New Delhi, Dr Anil Kumar; Director SKIMS, Dr Ashraf Ganai; Principal GMC Srinagar, Dr Iffat Hassan Shah and Principal GMC Jammu, Dr Ashutosh Gupta were also present on the occasion.

Delegates from Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisations (ROTTOs) and SOTTOs from across the country participated in the event.

These included representatives from ROTTO North, SOTTO J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Haryana, ROTTO East Kolkata, SOTTO Odisha, Bihar, ROTTO Guwahati, SOTTO Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura, and Sikkim.