A LIFELINE OF HOPE: RUBY HALL CLINIC WANOWARIE LAUNCHES KIDNEY TRANSPLANT PROGRAMME ON WORLD KIDNEY DAY
The newspaper pages may be faded but the stories shine through: two strangers become connected after each receiving a kidney from a deceased donor; a woman donates her kidney to her daughter; a brother travels across the country to save his sibling’s life with a kidney transplant. These are just a few of the stories the Kidney Transplant Programme at Ruby Hall Clinic has seen over its journey. A pioneer of kidney transplants in the city and state (excluding Mumbai), the hospital has been witness to thousands of stories of hope, health and happiness. Extending this thread of hope across the city, the hospital is proud to announce the launch of a CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS at it’s satellite centre, Ruby Hall Clinic Wanowarie.
Incidentally, this launch coincides with World Kidney Day which is celebrated on the second Thursday in March across the world. This year, the day falls on 12th March and continues to raise awareness of the increasing burden of kidney diseases worldwide and to strive for kidney health for everyone, everywhere. Dr. Arun Tirlapur, Consultant Nephrologist, Ruby Hall Clinic Wanowarie explains, “End-stage renal disease occurs when the kidneys have lost about 90% of their ability to function normally — i.e. filter and remove waste, minerals and fluid from the blood by producing urine. In such an instance, the only options remaining are dialysis and kidney transplantation.” The hospital already stands out from its other counterparts with an ultra-modern, comfortable, well-lit dialysis suite as opposed to small, dingy rooms. Here, patients can come in for their sessions, relax in comfortable chairs, catch-up on their latest tv shows or even get back to work with the wi-fi enabled premises.
“While dialysis is a life-saving treatment, it does only about 10 percent of the work that a functioning kidney does. Patients typically live 10 to 15 years longer with a kidney transplant than if they stayed on dialysis. And most people report that in comparison, transplantation offers them a much better quality of life,” emphasises Dr. Avinash Ignatius, Senior Consultant Nephrologist, Ruby Hall Clinic Wanowarie. However, the situation with organ donation presents more of a challenge. “It is a precarious situation with organ donation. Close to two lakh people in India require a kidney transplant, out of which a mere five thousand receive it. Becoming an organ donor is an incredible and noble gift because you can give someone a second chance at life. With all organs being healthy, each organ donor can save up to eight lives, and each tissue donor can enhance the lives of countless more,” adds Dr. Bhoopat Bhatti, Consultant Nephrologist, Ruby Hall Clinic Wanowarie.
“People often believe that organ donation is against religion, but truth be told — all major religions in the world advocate it. In the case of living donor transplants, which is a possibility in the case of kidneys, potential donors believe that they will not be able to live healthy lives, or may be at risk for kidney failure in the future. The truth is that if people follow a healthy lifestyle, living a long, active life with one kidney is very much a reality,” highlights Dr. Sandeep Morkhandikar, Renal Transplant Specialist, Ruby Hall Clinic Wanowarie. “Although most transplants are successful and last for many years, how long they last can vary from one person to the next. We encourage patients to resume their normal activities, but the key is moderation. We already have the benefit of advanced technology and the introduction of newer drugs with potentially lesser side effects, but the ultimate success lies in the hands of patients who maintain healthy lifestyles,”
Dr. Himesh Gandhi, Consultant Uro-oncologist, Ruby Hall Clinic Wanowarie further adds.
The busy transplant team at Ruby Hall Clinic Wanowarie consists of highly skilled transplant surgeons, nephrologists, specialised anaesthetists and intensive care experts. Dedicated and specially trained nurses form an important part of the team. Equally important are physiotherapists, nutritionists, and counsellors. This entire specialist team has the support of ultra-modern state-of-the-art infrastructure in the form of modular operating theatres and a dedicated post-transplant recovery unit backed by technology at par with international standards ensuring round-the-clock monitoring and sustained care. More importantly, the hospital also has the unique facility to perform 3D-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomies which significantly reduce recovery time. Along with this, an active team of medical social workers aids and counsels patients and their families on the importance and benefits of organ donation.
“The choice to donate – often made at a grief-stricken and terrible moment in life – is one that is far-reaching and greatly beneficial. Being a leader in organ transplantation in the city has it’s fair share of onus on us. The addition of kidney transplantation at our hospital enables us to carry forward the legacy put forth by our founder. As healthcare facility, Ruby Hall Clinic Wanowarie has made significant strides toward improving organ donation rates, and we’re seeing the impact in the numbers, as well as in the personal stories of the lives that have been saved,” concludes Dr. Manisha Karmarkar, COO, Ruby Hall Clinic Wanowarie.
—————– Article By Ruby Hall Clinic, Wanowrie.
