By Nafisa Khatoon
Including important topics in the textbooks mean more classroom discussion and learning assignments which will develop students’ strong social consciousness to pledge for organ donation
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has recently drafted a curriculum on organ donation, which is under review by a panel of experts. The curriculum aims at promoting awareness about organ donation among students and once approved this will be a prominent chapter in NCERT science textbooks.
“Introducing organ donation chapters in the curriculum is the most needed step in the right direction. School students from a young age will know the basics of the organ donation process and how it helps in saving numerous lives. The integration of important topics in the textbooks means more classroom discussion and learning assignments which will develop a curiosity to know more about the topic. In the long term, the awareness shall convert into a strong social consciousness of students to become potential donors in the future,” says Sunayana Singh, CEO, (Organ Receiving and Giving Awareness Network) ORGAN India, an initiative launched by Delhi-based NGO Parashar Foundation.
Indians are reluctant to pledge organ donation and this can be curbed if we educate students at the school level. “Prominent sub-topics informing students as to who and how one can be a donor, and which organs can be donated should be identified and included in simple English and regional languages in the textbooks. Also, each chapter should contain a data summary on the number of deaths taking place due to organ failure, to make students understand the adverse effect of the shortage of organ donors. Exposure to real problems and suggesting doable actions will bring positive motivation among students to give their consent as organ donors to donate organs like heart, liver, intestine, kidneys, lungs, and pancreas,” says Dr Amit Gupta, professor, Department of Surgery, AIIMS Rishikesh.
One cornea donor can restore the eyesight of two people. Dedicated chapters on organ donation will also help to improve the treatment of corneal blindness in India. “Students should be informed of the simple 20-minute process for donating cornea. Along with textbook education, planning a visit to a nearby eye bank for an interactive session with eye surgeons on points to take care of to complete cornea donation should also be plugged in, says Dr Sanjay Teotia Joint Director, Medical and Health, Lucknow, UP.
When it comes to inspiring a person to become a potential organ donor, the success rate is not very high due to lack of information. Explaining more, Singh says, “In the past decade, we have conducted numerous interactive sessions to raise awareness on organ donation, in more than 200 schools in Delhi and Haryana. We have noticed that students are very receptive to the topic if its key points are taught through effective conversational methods using presentations, small films, and skits. But, students converting as organ donors is poor because of little availability of quality teaching materials and inconsistent followups in a classroom setup.”
The educational intervention will help in facilitating the consistent flow of awareness from the students to their families, and friends, in turn, amplifying a positive impact. In the next 8-10 years, the next generation that graduates from school will be adults who will be more inclined to pledge for organ donation. The knowledge flow is bound to bring an increased number of people registering as organ donors.
Including important topics in the textbooks mean more classroom discussion and learning assignments which will develop students’ strong social consciousness to pledge for organ donation
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has recently drafted a curriculum on organ donation, which is under review by a panel of experts. The curriculum aims at promoting awareness about organ donation among students and once approved this will be a prominent chapter in NCERT science textbooks.
“Introducing organ donation chapters in the curriculum is the most needed step in the right direction. School students from a young age will know the basics of the organ donation process and how it helps in saving numerous lives. The integration of important topics in the textbooks means more classroom discussion and learning assignments which will develop a curiosity to know more about the topic. In the long term, the awareness shall convert into a strong social consciousness of students to become potential donors in the future,” says Sunayana Singh, CEO, (Organ Receiving and Giving Awareness Network) ORGAN India, an initiative launched by Delhi-based NGO Parashar Foundation.
Indians are reluctant to pledge organ donation and this can be curbed if we educate students at the school level. “Prominent sub-topics informing students as to who and how one can be a donor, and which organs can be donated should be identified and included in simple English and regional languages in the textbooks. Also, each chapter should contain a data summary on the number of deaths taking place due to organ failure, to make students understand the adverse effect of the shortage of organ donors. Exposure to real problems and suggesting doable actions will bring positive motivation among students to give their consent as organ donors to donate organs like heart, liver, intestine, kidneys, lungs, and pancreas,” says Dr Amit Gupta, professor, Department of Surgery, AIIMS Rishikesh.
One cornea donor can restore the eyesight of two people. Dedicated chapters on organ donation will also help to improve the treatment of corneal blindness in India. “Students should be informed of the simple 20-minute process for donating cornea. Along with textbook education, planning a visit to a nearby eye bank for an interactive session with eye surgeons on points to take care of to complete cornea donation should also be plugged in, says Dr Sanjay Teotia Joint Director, Medical and Health, Lucknow, UP.
When it comes to inspiring a person to become a potential organ donor, the success rate is not very high due to lack of information. Explaining more, Singh says, “In the past decade, we have conducted numerous interactive sessions to raise awareness on organ donation, in more than 200 schools in Delhi and Haryana. We have noticed that students are very receptive to the topic if its key points are taught through effective conversational methods using presentations, small films, and skits. But, students converting as organ donors is poor because of little availability of quality teaching materials and inconsistent followups in a classroom setup.”
The educational intervention will help in facilitating the consistent flow of awareness from the students to their families, and friends, in turn, amplifying a positive impact. In the next 8-10 years, the next generation that graduates from school will be adults who will be more inclined to pledge for organ donation. The knowledge flow is bound to bring an increased number of people registering as organ donors.
