JAMMU: Ever since the establishment of State Organ and Tissues Transplant Organization (SOTTO) at Super Specialty Hospital (SSH) Jammu in the year 2019, over 1400 people have pledged donation of their organs through 140 awareness campaigns.

This was stated by Principal Government Medical College and Hospital Jammu, Dr Shashi Sudhan Sharma during a press conference held here on Monday.

Accompanied by Dr Elias Sharma, HoD Urology & Renal Transplant and Nodal Officer SOTTO J&K, Dr Sanjeev Puri, Joint Director SOTTO J&K and other prominent medical professionals, Dr Shashi Sudhan Sharma highlighted the critical need for organ and tissue transplantation in India, including Jammu and Kashmir, where there is a large deficit between demand and availability.

She noted that the Medical College Jammu has been providing training for transplant surgeons, nurses, and coordinators in collaboration with SOTTO J&K.

She said GMC Jammu has successfully performed 13 Renal Transplants, all under Ayushman Bharat, with logistics provided by the hospital since its registration from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in April 2022.

The hospital has also established an Eye Bank in the Department of Ophthalmology, which has performed four Corneal Transplants, giving sight to the blind, she said.

She also shared that GMC Jammu is the first hospital to perform live Kidney Transplant in the Jammu Division.

She added that GMC Jammu has been working to start Deceased Organ Donation from Brain Dead Persons diagnosed after road traffic accidents or brain haemorrhage, who can be potential donors for eyes, kidneys, lungs, heart, liver, etc.

"Families of such persons can donate organs and tissues for saving the lives of end-stage organ failure patients who otherwise are going to die. Unused organs and tissues, other than eyes and kidneys, shall be transported to other hospitals by creating a green corridor," she said.