World Organ Donation Day 2022 - History, Date, Significance

Organ donation is the process of retrieving an organ like a kidney, liver, heart, lungs, or pancreas from a deceased or living donor. The retrieved organ is then transplanted into a recipient suffering from organ failure. The technological advancements in this field have drastically improved patient survival rates and graft quality after transplantation. However, the increased organ demand has led to an inadequate supply. To improve this situation, people should become aware of organ donation and be willing to do so after their death because a single organ donor can save up to eight lives!

While a healthy person can donate some organs or part of their organs, like liver, kidney, or lung, most organs are retrieved from a deceased person. As mentioned above, a deceased person’s organs can save up to eight lives. These organs include:

1. 1 Liver: Since the liver has a regenerative property, a part of it can be donated by a living person as well. A liver retrieved from a deceased donor can be further divided into two for split transplantation. 
2. 2 Kidneys: A living donor can donate one kidney, whereas a deceased donor can donate both kidneys. It is the most frequently donated organ with the highest demand. 
3. 1 Heart: After being retrieved from a deceased donor, the heart can only survive for four to six hours. 
4. 2 Lungs: While a living donor can donate a lobe from the lungs, a deceased donor can donate both lungs. 
5. 1 Pancreas: Pancreas from the deceased donor can be transplanted into the recipient. Furthermore, even a living donor can donate a part of the pancreas. 
6. Intestine: A deceased donor can also donate their intestine for transplantation.  

Organ donors can be of two types:

1. Living Donor: A living donor is any healthy person willing to donate an organ. Living donors cannot donate all their organs. They usually donate a kidney or a liver (a person can survive on one kidney, and the liver can regenerate itself). Living donors can be near relatives (such as spouses, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, etc.) or distant relatives and friends. 
2. Deceased Donor: A deceased donor can donate all viable organs and tissues after being declared brain dead. People need to pledge their organs for organ donation after death. 

Now that we know the basics of organ donation let’s understand the history and significance of World Organ Donation Day. 

The world observes and celebrates organ donation day on 13 August. Medical science has evolved quickly, and successful organ transplants are performed every day. However, the first account of organ donation and transplantation goes back to 1954, when Joseph Murray retrieved a kidney from a living donor and performed a kidney transplant between twin brothers Ronald Lee Herrick and Richard Lee Herrick. With further advances in medical science, several other complex and famous historical transplants have taken place:

1. A baby with anencephaly who lived for 100 minutes was the youngest organ donor who donated kidneys to an adult with renal failure in 2015. 
2. A 95-year-old man from West Virginia is known to be the oldest organ donor of an internal organ who donated his liver after he died in 2021. 

Since the introduction of organ transplants, it has helped save millions of lives worldwide. 

1. National Organ Donation Day in India is celebrated on 27 November every year. 
2. It was celebrated in 2010 for the first time. 
3. The day aims to promote awareness and motivate people to pledge their organs for donation.
4. It is directed by the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), passed in 1994 by the Indian parliament and further amended in 2011 and 2014. 
5. The law permits donations from both living and deceased donors. 
6. It was passed to recognise brain death as a means of increasing the organ donor pool in the country.

1. Despite the increasing demand, organ donation has not become a widespread practice around the globe.
2. As per reports, about 50,000 people die in India annually due to the non-availability of organs.
3. Donating an organ can give a new life to a person in desperate need.
4. However, a lack of awareness has resulted in several myths and fears among the public.
5. Although recent advancements in medical sciences have made people trust the organ donation process more than before, there is still a need to spread awareness. 
6. This year’s World Organ Donation Day theme is “let’s pledge to donate organs and save lives.” Organ donation can save the lives of millions of people and offer hope of survival to those suffering from organ damage or failure. 

Being an organ donor is your personal choice. However, it is a noble deed that every eligible individual should consider. On Organ Donation Day, create awareness about the importance of donating organs and inspire people to do the same. You can pledge your organs by filling out an online form on the official website of NOTTO (the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation). You will then receive your donor card with a unique government registration number. 

If you have any more queries regarding the process of organ donation and transplantation, you can consult an expert at HexaHealth. Our team of doctors will guide you through the complete process and help you connect with the best doctors. So pledge your organs TODAY, and give someone a second chance at life!