To mark World Kidney Day, the department of nephrology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), today launched a website- www.indiakpd.org -where kidney recipient/donor pairs can register and find a perfect match.
As many as 4,238 successful kidney transplants have been carried out at PGI in the last 45 years. Moreover, even during the Covid pandemic, PGI continued the process of kidney transplants and saved around 100 lives. However, it is a matter of concern that currently, more than 2,500 patients are waiting for a transplant in the hospital.
Dr HS Kohli, Head of Department of Nephrology, PGI, informed that in the Covid period, out of the 101 kidney transplants, 22 kidneys were from brain dead and 79 were from living organ donors.
Dr Raja Ram Chandran informing about the website said, “In renal transplant, we intend to have a paramount addition to addressing deficiency of patients with kidney disease finding compatible living donors. Paired kidney donation is a process of exchange of recipient/donor pairs who are related but incompatible (blood group being different), but the recipient of one pair is compatible with the donor of the other pair. The department has started this endeavour by creating a website — www.indiakpd.org — where such recipient/donor pairs can register. Nearer centres outside Chandigarh can register too, and contribute as well as benefit from the increasing pool of donors.”
The first kidney transplant in PGI was performed in 1973 when the organ was transplanted from a living organ donor, while in 1996; kidney from a brain dead was transplanted for the first time.
Follow these tips to keep your kidneys healthy:
- Keep active and fit
- Control your blood sugar
- Monitor blood pressure
- Monitor weight and eat a healthy diet
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Don’t smoke
- Don’t take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory/pain-killer pills regularly
