The highest number of kidney donors in Nepal is women. It has been found that 80 percent of the people who donate kidneys are women. Although 72 percent of the victims are men, more women donate to them for kidney transplants. According to experts, the number of kidney donors has increased among married women, and mothers who have given birth.
At a media workshop organized by Nepal Press Institute and Sahid Dharma Bhakta National Human Organ Transplant Center, the Executive Director of the Center, Dr. Pukar Chandra Shrestha said that the center has so far performed kidney transplants for 900 people in one year. Only yesterday, for the first time, four kidney transplants were performed at the center on the same day. He claimed that the success rates of kidney transplantation in Nepal are 99.9 percent.
In the past, people used to go to India for kidney transplants. Finding a kidney donor was also considered very difficult.
The Government of Nepal has made arrangements for free kidney transplants and dialysis treatment. The government has arranged to provide 400,000 rupees for kidney transplants and 100,000 rupees for treatment and medicine expenses. But an additional Rs 4 to 5 lakhs is required by kidney patients, said Dr. Kalpana Shrestha, a kidney specialist.
It is estimated that about 3 million people in Nepal have kidney disease. An estimated figure shows that the cases of kidney failure in Nepal increase by 3,000 per year. Likewise, 1,000 people develop liver failure annually.
In Nepal, 72 percent of people die from non-communicable diseases, including kidney disease. The sixth leading cause of death in the world is kidney-related diseases. Kidney transplant treatment is becoming easier in Nepal now that there is a legal provision for any relative to donate a kidney to the victim.
“8 different organs of brain-dead people can be transplanted to others”, Dr. Basant Pant, a senior neurosurgeon, informed. “Although most people die from heart attacks, brain death is the first cause of death. Experts have emphasized that the mass media should play an active role in raising public awareness about organ donation after brain death.
Health and Population Minister Bhawani Prasad Khapung informed that members of the Council of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, have donated their organs.
Bhairab Risal, a senior journalist who will turn 95 tomorrow, said that he has already donated his body. So far, 2033 people have declared organ donation in Nepal.
Senior journalist Kapil Kafle said that the media should prioritize sensitive topics like health as their subject matter.
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