Date:27/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/27/stories/2008092759660800.htm

Tamil Nadu

Organ bank to be set up at Stanley Medical College

Special Correspondent

It will aid in retreival and storage of organs donated

CHENNAI: An organ bank will be set up at a cost of Rs.5 crore at Stanley Medical College, Health Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam announced on Friday.

The bank, which will aid in retrieval and appropriate storage of organs donated from patients declared brain dead, will come up soon at the college and be the nodal unit at a time when the State is providing an impetus to cadaver organ donation, he said.

Participating in the 18th national conference of the Indian Association of Surgical Gastroenterology (IASG), IASG CON Chennai 2008, Mr. Panneerselvam recalled the gesture of the doctor couple from Thirukazhukundram in donating their son Hithendran’s organs after he was declared brain dead. The new organ bank would provide a facility for more such donations.

Governor Surjit Singh Barnala said it was important to create awareness of lifestyle diseases and dietary habits among the public. Rising consumption of fast food, especially among the youth, was a source of worry. Untimely food, stress, spicy and oily food, unhygienic food, smoking and consumption of alcohol could lead to a variety of problems.

Rapid modernisation and lifestyle changes were a major cause for increase in several diseases, including gastrointestinal ailments. A worrying factor was the increase in obesity among adults and children, which could lead to metabolic disorders and various gastrointestinal cancers. The Governor stressed the need to address these issues.

He congratulated the Indian Association of Surgical Gastroenterology for organising the conference. He hoped delegates would dwell in depth on the new health challenges created by changing life styles and discuss possible interventions.

Mr. Barnala handed over the Living Legend awards to senior gastrointestinal surgeons N. Rangabashyam and B. Krishna Rau, for their contributions to the speciality. He also released the 15th volume of the newsletter of the IASG.

Health secretary V.K. Subburaj said about 7-8 per cent of the population in India were carriers of the Hepatitis B virus. Even if one per cent were to develop the disease, the numbers would be staggering. The gastrointestinal system was also prone to many diseases and infections and it was essential to take care of the GI system to lead a healthy life.

He congratulated R. Surendran, conference organising chairman, and head of the department of gastrointestinal surgery, Stanley Medical College, and S.M. Chandramohan, conference organising secretary, and head, gastroinstestinal surgery, Madras Medical College, for pioneering efforts in the speciality in the government sector.