Organ Donation Awareness Drive organized in Latehar

Pioneer News Service

Daltonganj

A two-day organ donation awareness campaign organised by the students, teachers and staff of St Xavier’s College, Mahuadanr, concluded on July 17 after reaching villagers and highlighting the urgent need for greater public awareness about organ donation. Conducted under the National Service Scheme, the campaign featured rallies with posters and placards carrying messages promoting organ donation and encouraging people to discuss the issue openly.

Students also visited nearby Rajdanda village, where they interacted with residents and explained how organ donation can save lives. College Principal M.K. Jose said the campaign was held from July 16 to 17 following guidance from the National Service Scheme. University sources said St Xavier’s College is the first affiliated institution to organise such an initiative.

Medical experts associated with the campaign stressed that organ donation is possible from both living and deceased donors under established legal and medical protocols. They noted that timely retrieval of organs from brain-dead or circulatory-death donors can save up to eight lives.

Palamu Civil Surgeon Dr Anil Kumar Srivastava said no organ donation cases have been reported in the district so far, citing inadequate infrastructure, limited expertise and poor public awareness. Doctors also sought to dispel misconceptions that organ retrieval disfigures the body, emphasising that the procedure is performed respectfully while preserving the donor’s dignity and appearance.