Life is the most sacred thing in this
world. Every single object of this planet serves life in one way or other.
Earth offers its chest to sow the seeds and reap the crops, the in-animate
water, and the lifeless air all conspire and strive to sustain life. Since
beginning of times till date all the agency of human activity is finding ways
to how to improve life. Each endeavor man ever undertook had no goal but one to
improve the life. The doing away with abodes in caves to developing sophisticated
gated communities, the domestication of wild animals, the transformation from
use of animal hides for covering up bodies to manufacturing garments in industries,
every single enterprise carried but one aim facilitate the life of living.
Another vital aspect of human existence
which went from clutches of superstition to pantheon of science is the field of
medicine. It saw an unprecedented turnaround of fortunes from being an orderly
at the doors of village shaman and witch doctors it has become a master of its
own fate. The advent of 21st century sees us standing at moral
crossroads superstition and false morality is trying to get better of us on the
issue of Cadaver Organ Donation. Medical science has proven the Organs like
Kidneys, Liver, and Eyes linger on actively even after the death of a person
and these organs can bestow the gift of life to patients suffering from illness
of liver, kidney. We have to bury a body what difference would it make if it
were to be interred after removal of organs, what changes do we need to make if
a body were to be cremated sans liver or kidney. It is all a matter of
perspective hundreds and thousands of lives would be saved by this act of
kindness.
Our country harbors the second largest
population of patients carrying the hepatitis C virus, tentative estimates put
5-10% of our population which in many occasions transforms into cirrhosis
followed by liver failure, which can only be treated by a transplant. The agony
of this affliction is beyond words to explain, it makes living more of a
hellish experience, if the cadaverous liver tissue were to be stored at a
designated facility and used when need arises, it would be tantamount to giving
back life to the sufferer which is the theme of humanism and religiosity.
Habib Jalib the poet of people once said
here businesses are numerous
In this country kidneys are sold
The poet had rightly summed the dismal
state of affairs in a couplet. A mafia operates in this land which exploits the
plight of disentitled, deprived and marginal citizens living at the margins of
society, the transaction is of bone and flesh done in unhygienic conditions
leaving the donors fend for themselves once the transaction is fulfilled. This
mafia then blackmails those in need and extorts astronomical sums to the tunes
of millions in exchange for an Organ. Pakistan has an estimated population of
20,000 patients who each year fall prey to End Stage Renal Disease for which
the sole permanent cure is Kidney Transplantation. The practice is immoral,
un-ethical illegal but those hanging by a thread to hold on their life give in,
that to at great risk to their life. This odious facility is available only for
those who can spare a million or two whereas the majorities who are
non-affording keep living a tattered life going on by undergoing dialysis 2-3
times a week for the rest of their life.
Transplantation of Human Organs and
Tissue Act gives legal platform to stand on and further the Initiative of
Cadaver donation, the SIUT is a shining example which must be emulated by every
state, Dr. Adeeb-ul-Hassan Rizvi the medicine man created a prototype which is
the biggest transplantation facility being run completely on charity.
The greatest opposition on this issue
comes from religious quarters who object it on religious grounds; we cannot and
must not pander to their whimsical ill-formed views which hamper the progress
by creating obstacles based on a faulty interpretation of religious scriptures.
Argument, dialogue, debate must be done with these quarters and I am sure consensus
can be reached which shall put aside the thorny opposition.
Another objection is somewhat valid the
fear of disfigurement of body during surgical removal of Organs which could be
improved upon if medics were to brainstorm on this issue and come up with a
solution which would render the body physically in an excellent physical shape.
Academia, Medical community, civil
society must impress upon government the importance of this issue, social
media, print, electronic media must be utilized to meet this end of creating
awareness about it in the masses. If electronic media could be persuaded to do
this bidding then we will see this issue snowballing into the most significant
issue ever to have encountered by the nation. The media with its unmatchable
energy can turn the tide in any direction it wishes it could make the day dark
and night bright. If this effort could be channeled for constructive purposes
then we are in for a great good.
PS: Abdul Sattar Edhi the Angel of mercy
helped mankind even after his death for he donated his cornea to a child who
had lost the gift of sight.
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