Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 24: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah praised the contributions of medical professionals and organizations in saving lives.
He made these remarks during his address at the inaugural session of SAMAGAM-2025, a two-day event hosted by the National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) from New Delhi, in partnership with the State Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization (SOTTO), J&K at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Center (SKICC).
As the chief guest, the Chief Minister applauded the efforts of the organizers and recognized the remarkable work of the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, and GMC Jammu in the domains of kidney and corneal transplants.
He encouraged these institutions to enhance their initiatives towards establishing cadaveric organ donation in Jammu and Kashmir.
Highlighting the importance of increasing awareness and acceptance of organ donation, the Chief Minister proposed that medical specialists collaborate with religious leaders and other key stakeholders to engage in informed discussions, aiming for a consensus on the topic.
He promised the full support of the Government in bolstering these institutions to nurture a healthier society.
He also pointed out the negative impacts of self-medication, lifestyle diseases, and insufficient physical activity, urging individuals to embrace healthier practices. During the event, the Chief Minister honored ambassadors of organ and tissue donation from Kashmir, including the family of the late Dr. Manzoor Ahmed, former Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at GMC Srinagar and a distinguished eye surgeon.
His eyes were donated posthumously by fellow ophthalmologists Dr. Khurshid Ahmed and Dr. Seema Mian. Moreover, Heenu Mushtaq, a kidney transplant recipient leading a healthy life, was also recognized.
The event included expert discussions on various aspects of organ donation and transplantation, as well as presentations on the current landscape of organ donation in India, the evolution of cadaveric organ donation and transplantation, the relationship between Islam and organ/tissue donation, and the future of cadaveric organ donation in J&K.
Notable attendees included Director General of Health Services, Government of India, Dr. Atul Goel; Director of NOTTO, New Delhi, Dr. Anil Kumar; Director of SKIMS, Dr. Ashraf Ganai; Principal of GMC Srinagar, Dr. Iffat Hassan Shah; and Principal of GMC Jammu, Dr. Ashutosh Gupta.
Delegates from Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (ROTTOs) and State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (SOTTOs) from various states across the country also participated. These representatives came from ROTTO North, SOTTO J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Haryana, ROTTO East Kolkata, SOTTO Odisha, Bihar, ROTTO Guwahati, and SOTTO Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura, and Sikkim.
