One brain death can save eight lives: Dr. Shrestha

Executive Director at Martyrs Dharmabhakta National Organ Transplantation Centre, Dr Pukarchandra Shrestha, has said one brain death can be used for saving the lives of eight persons.

At a program organized by Nepal Press Institute here Friday, Dr Shrestha said organs can be transplanted into eight other persons after one brain death. He added that kidneys, lungs, liver, pancreas and small intestine can be removed from the brain-dead person and transplanted to others.

"Eight persons' lives can be saved by single brain death. So, if a person's body is donated after death, it saves others," he said. He further added that people were hesitating to donate organs after their death due to a lack of public awareness of it in Nepal.

Organ donation helps revive the lives of those with damaged organs.

According to Dr Shrestha, the Centre has so far conducted kidney transplantation on 900 persons while liver transplantation on nine persons. Similarly, eight persons have got a kidney and two persons the liver from brain-dead persons, he informed.

Recently, the Prime Minister and Members of the Council of Ministers have announced organ donation.

It was informed at the program that 10 surgeons, nine physicians, and a three-member team including one transplantation coordinator and seven anesthesiologists are ready for organ transplantation round the clock at the Centre.

On the occasion, Minister for Health and Population Bhawani Prasad Khapung also admitted there is a dearth of public awareness on the importance of organ donation after one's life. He shared the information that he had also donated the organ. "I've also declared that I would donate my organ after brain death," he added. Secretary at the Ministry, Dr Roshan Pokhrel, said the government was planning to expand the service of kidney transplantation in all seven provinces.

Senior neurosurgeon Dr Basanta Pant viewed as a person who faces brain death first and other organs die gradually, the other organs could be donated for saving lives. "After the brain dies, other organs die gradually. The human body does not die at once," he stressed, so organ donation has huge significance.

On the occasion, senior journalist Kapil Kafle said mainstream media have failed to prioritize health-related news.

Another noted journalist Rajendra Dahal viewed an atmosphere should be created for the senior people to live a dignified life.