By Nafisa Khatoon
Including essential matters in the textbooks imply extra classroom dialogue and studying assignments which can develop college students’ robust social consciousness to pledge for organ donation
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has just lately drafted a curriculum on organ donation, which is underneath overview by a panel of specialists. The curriculum goals at selling consciousness about organ donation amongst college students and as soon as authorised this shall be a outstanding 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 may be curbed if we educate college students on the school stage. “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 individuals. Dedicated chapters on organ donation may also assist to enhance the therapy 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 instructional intervention will assist in facilitating the constant circulate of consciousness from the scholars to their households, and associates, in flip, amplifying a optimistic impression. In the subsequent 8-10 years, the subsequent era that graduates from school shall be adults who shall be extra inclined to pledge for organ donation. The information circulate is certain to convey an elevated quantity of individuals registering as organ donors.
Including essential matters in the textbooks imply extra classroom dialogue and studying assignments which can develop college students’ robust social consciousness to pledge for organ donation
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has just lately drafted a curriculum on organ donation, which is underneath overview by a panel of specialists. The curriculum goals at selling consciousness about organ donation amongst college students and as soon as authorised this shall be a outstanding 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 may be curbed if we educate college students on the school stage. “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 individuals. Dedicated chapters on organ donation may also assist to enhance the therapy 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 instructional intervention will assist in facilitating the constant circulate of consciousness from the scholars to their households, and associates, in flip, amplifying a optimistic impression. In the subsequent 8-10 years, the subsequent era that graduates from school shall be adults who shall be extra inclined to pledge for organ donation. The information circulate is certain to convey an elevated quantity of individuals registering as organ donors.
