Those who donate organs are blessed: JNIMS director
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 30 2023:
The first deceased organ donation took place in Manipur, making it the first state in all of North-East India to do so.
A release issued by JNIMS director Prof Laishram De-ben Singh informed that after Sarungbam Kennedy Singh, 42, was diagnosed with brain stem death, his mother and wife from Chingamathak Nameirakpam Leikai in Imphal West bravely decided to donate their loved one's organs amidst intense grief and heartache.
Two patients with end-stage kidney illness received both of his kidneys as a transplant, giving them a new lease on life.
Kennedy, a father of two boys, was admitted with multiple episodes of seizure and vomiting to Kripadashi ni Advanced Hospital, Palace Compound.
During his stay at the hospital, his condition deteriorated, and showed hypoxic brain injury.
On August 2, he was referred to Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), Porompat, Imphal for further clinical management.
JNIMS is the first government institute to perform organ transplant in the state.
Since, May 2022, JNIMS has performed a total of 27 live kidney transplants, the release informed, while pointing out that most of the recipients and donors are from the poor families and availed the benefit of health insurance scheme of the Government namely Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) and Chief Minister's Hakshelgi Tengbang - CMHT (State) .
"Those who donate organs are blessed as they give others a second life and it is up to you to pass your life to someone who is in dire need," said Prof Laishram Deben Singh.
Since many patients on the waiting list do not have family members who are qualified to donate kidney, efforts have been made to start the deceased donation programme.
Kennedy was certified as hav ing passed both rounds of testing for brain stem death by the State Brain Death Committee on August 2, at which point the family was given the choice of organ donation.
"He always wanted to help people in any way he could, and the selfless help he gave to others was commendable," said Sarungbam Amusana Devi, mother of the organ donor.
"Even though we were unable to rescue him and still can't get over the shock of losing him, we want to help others by donating his organs.
By our choice, his soul will continue to rest in peace," his wife said, her voice filled with sorrow.
In the first of its kind, Transplant Team of JNIMS successfully retrieved both the kidneys from the deceased donor.
In the best interest of organ sharing, one kidney was transplanted at JNIMS and the other was transplanted at Shija Hospitals & Research Institute, Langol, after abiding organ allocation protocols.
A green corridor was created to transport the organ from JNIMS to Shija Hospital with hassle free traffic covering 7.5 km in 12 minutes.
The Imphal East and Imphal West police were kind enough to cooperate the situation, the release lauded.
Team of MOHAN Foundation, a national NGO has worked since 1997 to promote deceased organ donation, counselled the wife and the mother.
It is a significant step and co-operation given by Directorate of Health Services Manipur, National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), Imphal Heart Institute, Kripadashini Advanced Hospital and Manipur police which made the organ transplant possible despite the current turmoil in Manipur.
"It is indeed very heartening to know that Imphal has had its first deceased organ donation.
In fact, it's the first donation in all of Northeast India.
It is very encouraging to see how people in our country are always coming forward for such noble acts and is a strong indication of community solidarity.
This brave and generous act by the mother and wife of Kennedy will pave the way forward for many such life-saving donations," said NOTTO director Dr Anil Kumar.