Harrow mother encourages people to sign up to register to donate organs (From Harrow Times)
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Harrow mother encourages people to sign up to register to donate organs
12:20pm Tuesday 18th October 2011 in News
A HARROW mother whose daughter donated a kidney to her is encouraging people from black and asian communtities to register to donate organs.
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) will be hosting special stands this Saturday in both St Anns and St George’s Shopping Centres, where people can find out more about organ donation.
The stands will be located in St Ann’s Shopping Centre, near Boots and in St George’s near the Disney Store between 9.30am and 5pm.
More than 67 per cent of people from Harrow on the transplant waiting list are from the Asian or Black community.
Kanchan Bhagat, whose daughter donated one of her kidneys to her, said: “I had chronic kidney disease for 12 years and my condition started to deteriorate, which meant I would have needed to start having regular hospital dialysis.
"I owe my life to the amazing generosity of my daughter who gave the go-ahead for the transplant and I am eternally grateful to her.
"I feel that as a result of my transplant I have been given this extra chance, and I want to use it in a positive way and urge people to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register.”
Alia Rashid, specialist nurse in organ donation, NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “A transplant is much more likely to be successful if the donor and recipient have the same ethnic origin.
"Offering to become an organ donor means that you could save or enhance as many as nine lives.”
To add your name to the NHS Organ Donor Register ring 0300 123 0000, text ORGAN to 64118 or visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk or www.facebook.com/organdonationuk
Sonoo Malkani says...
2:10pm Tue 18 Oct 11
The best gift we can give one another is the gift of life.Our Asian community has so much to be proud of and have made many worthwhile contributions to the society and even to the Chancellor's coffers.
However,there is none greater than giving someone else the opportunity to have the quality of life which you yourself are fortunate enough to be enjoying.
Asian donors are in short supply and many are losing their lives,despite all the medical facilities being available,for lack of donors from similar ethnic groups.What a crying shame on us, in this day and age!This is the same with our Black community.We must overcome our out-dated ideas and be there to do our bit for our communities.
Many of us,especially those from the older generation,believe that organ donation renders our bodies impure---after we have passed away and also question why we should undergo surgery and risk our own lives during our life-time?These traditionally held ideas are totally out-dated and incorrect.
Our Holy Scriptures do not forbid us from making any donation,including precious parts of our body,to help someone else.Rather,they encourage us to help in any way we can to make life better for another.
Our youth are far more "with it" and dont carry so much baggage which might stop them making these life-giving donations.Imagine,ev
en after this body has completed its journey,we can live on through another---maybe through eyes given,kidneys and host of other preciuos organs.Look at how Kanchan's daughter has saved her mum's life.
Many folk are suspicious that doctors may not treat them as vigorously and try to save theri lives should they sign up for organ donation.Please remember,we are living in the UK where these matters are regulated very strictly.Doctors have to adhere to a Code of Conduct.
This Diwali,let us spread real joy and everlasting life by not just distributing sweets but by sweetening our society with the gift of organ donation.
Please take your friends and families to St Anns and St Georges Centres in the heart of Harrow,on Saturday,October 22,and sign up for this marvellous cause.Be generous and make our Asian community one we can genuinely be proud of.
You can always register for organ donation by accessing the relevant web-sites.I hope some of our younger folk will actively campaign and get many more to participate in this truly altruistic programme.
A truly HAPPY and WONDERFUL DIWALI to you all .