August 13: World Organ Donation Day

August 13, 2022

The World Organ Donation Day is celebrated across the world on August 13, every year. It is celebrated with the aim of raising awareness on organ donations. Apart from this, India celebrated “National Organ Donation Day” every year on November 27.

Significance of the day:

The day is celebrated to invalidate the myths surrounding organ donation.
It seeks to encourage people to donate their healthy organs post death as it would save more lives.
It is aimed at helping people to realise that, many people lose their lives because of unavailability of healthy organs. Thus, volunteering to donate their healthy organs can change life of many.

First Successful Organ Transplant:

In 1953, first temporarily successful transplantation of human kidney was done by Jean Hamburger in Paris. Kidney was transplanted from mother to a 16-year-old boy. However, the first long-term successful kidney transplant was done in 1954 in United Nations. Ronald lee Herrick had donated one kidney to his twin brother, Richard Herrick. Successful transplant was done by Doctor Joseph Murray. For this, Doctor received “Nobel Prize for physiology and medicine” in 1990.

Who can come forward to donate organ?

People can come forward to donate their organ, irrespective of their age, caste and religion. However, they should ensure that they are not suffering from chronic diseases like HIV, heart disease, lung disease or cancer. People can sign to donate their organ after 18 years of age.

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