KOCHI: The Centre of Excellence in Organ Transplantation was dedicated at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) here on Tuesday, jointly by Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr Harsh Vardhan, Kerala Health Minister V S Sivakumar and actor Mohanlal. On the occasion, a team of doctors that performed the recent hand transplant at the hospital, and the donors were facilitated. Medical Superintendent Dr Sanjeev K Singh explained the facilities available at the Centre and its activities. The head consultants who helped build the Centre were also felicitated.
A website dedicated to the Centre was switched on by Dr Noble Gracious, who is the nodal officer of the Kerala Network of Organ Sharing (KNOS). Dr Subrahmania Iyer, head of the Plastic and Re-constructive Surgery Department, spoke about the two hand transplants performed at the hospital, which was the first in South Asia.
Mohanlal felicitated the families of Binoy and Joseph, the first hand donors of the country. Dr Harsh Vardhan said that one day India would become as advanced as the developed countries in ‘deceased organ donation’ programme.Mohanlal emphasised on the divinity of the act of organ donation. “Organ donation is a ‘karma’ which comes out of one’s divinity,” he said.
Swami Poornamritananda Puri in his benedictory address said that the human body was a gift of God and should be utilised to serve others even after death.
Medical Director Dr Prem Nair, Amrita School of Medicine principal Dr Prathapan Nair and surgeon Dr Sudheendran also spoke.