- Though sisters contribute 6.2 percent in terms of live kidney donation, mothers top the charts with 33.7 percent while wives follow suit with 20.1 percent out of total 4,787 live kidney donations in the last 20 years.
- Sisters, mothers & wives spearhead kidney donations to see men in fine fettle
NE HEALTH BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, AUG 11
Selfless generosity shown by sisters, mothers and wives by becoming live kidney donors made hundreds of men celebrate yet another Rakshabandhan festival this year which epitomise festivity of pious love and hope of a sister for her brother. And mothers top the chart in this kidney donation, says a study.
A cursory look at the data collated by Institute of Kidney Diseases & Research Centre (IKDRC) in last 20 years with respect to donor relationship in kidney transplant reveals extra-ordinary zeal by female relatives in saving life of several men as live kidney donors.
Though sisters contribute 6.2 percent in terms of live kidney donation, mothers top the charts with 33.7 percent while wives follow suit with 20.1 percent out of total 4,787 live kidney donations in the last 20 years. Even in cases of kidney exchange 7.3 percent women came forward to contribute whereas 2.9 females contributed from the circle of extended circle families.
“Feminine virtues of affection, love and concern for the male members of immediate and extended family pave the way for live kidney donations by family women who are ready to donate kidneys without giving a second thought,” says Dr Vineet Mishra, Director, IKDRC-ITS.
“With a long waitlist for kidney transplant through cadaver, kidney donation by female members plays a pivotal in saving lives of hundreds of men,” added Dr Mishra. He elaborated further that women of Gujarat took a leaf out of historical epic of Mahabharata who dutifully performed their role in protecting lives of male members like it was done by Draupadi for Lord Krishna.
The earliest reference to celebration of this sisterly love of Rakshabandhan dates back to epic Mahabharta when Lord Krishna once accidently cut his finger that started bleeding. Draupadi who used to call Lord Krishna his brother tore-off a piece of cloth from her saree to bandage the injured finger to stop bleeding. And the custom of tying the sacred thread on brother’s wrist lives on since that day in history.
Patients, relatives and IKDRC staff celebrated the festival of Rakshabandhan with tying rakhis and distributing sweets among the recuperating patients.