Tag: public health India

Special Occasion

Organ Donation in Goa: Dr. Preeti Varghese, SOTTO Joint Director

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo

🫀 Every year on August 13, World Organ Donation Day is observed to raise awareness and encourage people to pledge their organs to save lives. This year’s theme, “Answering the Call”, puts the spotlight on healthcare professionals and communities working together to make organ donation a shared responsibility.

Dr. Preeti Varghese, Joint Director of SOTTO Goa, joins AllyCaral.com to share insights on how Goa is advancing this mission through community engagement, education, and public trust.

What is SOTTO Goa?

Established in October 2019 at Goa Medical College, SOTTO Goa is a vital link in India’s National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP). It regulates deceased donor organ transplants in the state and ensures organ retrieval, storage, and transplantation complies with the Transplantation of Human Organ Act (THOA), 1994.

Key functions include:

  • Organ donation facilitation
  • Organ allocation coordination
  • Maintenance of donor/recipient registries
  • Awareness campaigns and medical training
  • Implementation of national transplant schemes

Awareness Efforts in Goa

SOTTO Goa is actively creating awareness through a diverse set of initiatives:

  • Training programs for medical professionals
  • CMEs and CNEs for continuous education
  • Public campaigns including poster competitions, ad films, walkathons, and awareness drives in schools, colleges, corporates, and social clubs.

These efforts aim to normalize organ donation in daily conversations and break common myths that hinder participation.

Common Myths About Organ Donation

❌ “I’m too old to donate.”
 ✅ Age is not a barrier. Anyone above 18 can pledge. Medical suitability is determined later.

❌ “My body will be disfigured.”
 ✅ Organs are retrieved with surgical precision and dignity — similar to any medical surgery. There is no disfigurement.

How to Pledge in Goa

It’s simple:
👉 Visit notto.abdm.gov.in and register your pledge online.

A printable donor card and digital acknowledgment will be provided.

The Reality: Shortage Still Persists

India’s organ donation rate stands at just 0.6 per million population. In Goa, only kidney and cornea transplants are currently available, and as of now, 80 patients are on the deceased donor kidney transplant waiting list under the Nave Jivit scheme.

Public Attitude: A Slow but Steady Shift

Dr. Varghese believes public attitudes are shifting — but more people need to step forward.

“Organs can’t be manufactured or bought. Only one human can save another through donation,” she emphasizes.

The Role of Youth and Institutions

Dr. Varghese calls on students and schools to take the lead in creating conversations around organ donation:

“The right time to talk is now — when we’re healthy, surrounded by friends and family — not in times of grief.”

Final Message:

“#SayYesToOrganDonation.”
 Let’s step forward and support this noble cause. Your decision today could give someone else a tomorrow.

Health

TB Mukt Goa: State Launches Aggressive, Grassroots Health Campaign

allycaralgoa

Panaji, July 3, 2025 – In a decisive move to eliminate tuberculosis (TB), the Government of Goa has launched a statewide, multi-pronged public health campaign with the goal of becoming India’s first TB-free state by 2025. The campaign, part of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP), combines grassroots community engagement, financial aid, and digital health monitoring to tackle TB head-on.

Leadership and Vision

Goa’s Health Minister Vishwajit Rane highlighted the government’s commitment to a “unified and patient-centered approach” in the fight against TB. He reaffirmed that the state is investing in both infrastructure and human resources to ensure no TB patient is left behind.

“We are on track to achieve TB Mukt Goa,” said Rane. “Through coordinated efforts and accountability at every level, our vision is not just a reduction in TB, but total eradication.”

Nikshay Poshan Yojana: Supporting Patients, Nutritionally and Financially

A key pillar of the campaign is the Nikshay Poshan Yojana, a direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme that provides nutritional support to TB patients. The government is actively collecting bank account details to ensure timely and transparent fund disbursement.

This move not only addresses malnutrition-related vulnerabilities but also builds trust and continuity in treatment adherence.

Strengthening Health Infrastructure and Monitoring

To improve TB care, the government has deployed:

  • Medical Officers
  • Community Health Officers (CHOs)
  • AYUSH doctors

These professionals are placed across all Primary Health Institutions and tasked with continuous care, follow-ups, and home-based support.

Under the Differentiated TB Care Model, CHOs:

  • Conduct bi-weekly home visits
  • Dispense treatment incentives
  • Record patient progress through the Nikshay portal

Each TB patient’s treatment progress is now geo-tagged, providing real-time tracking and improving accountability across the system.

Contact Tracing and Early Detection

Goa has also tightened its contact tracing protocols:

  • Every household contact of a TB patient is screened
  • High-risk individuals receive chest X-rays
  • Results are rapidly uploaded to the Nikshay system for early intervention

These measures significantly reduce diagnosis delays and enable faster medical response.

TB-Free Panchayats: Grassroots Movement in Action

The campaign also aims to create TB-Free Panchayats, with each panchayat required to meet six health criteria to qualify. Weekly updates are submitted to the Directorate of Health Services, ensuring continuous progress tracking.

Community partnerships are central to this initiative. Healthcare workers, local authorities, and residents collaborate to raise awareness, boost case detection, and foster a collective sense of responsibility.

A Long Road, but Strong Resolve

Despite registering around 2,000 new TB cases annually and facing a mortality rate higher than the national average, Goa’s comprehensive strategy reflects a determined and hopeful trajectory.

By integrating technology, community care, and financial support, the state is not just managing TB — it is moving toward eliminating it.

The Goal: TB Mukt Goa by 2025

With firm leadership, innovation, and grassroots mobilization, Goa is rewriting the narrative on tuberculosis in India. The state’s journey toward a TB-free future stands as a model for other regions to emulate.