Kochi: Urban affairs minister Manjalamkuzhi Ali on Saturday said that awareness on stem cell donation was as important as the campaign for organ donation.
He was speaking at a function to honour Sidhin and Gireesh Kumar, residents of Thrissur, who donated stem cells, at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences here. Theirs was the first-ever stem cell donation in Kerala to unrelated recipients.
“Though Kerala is very advanced in terms of literacy, we are yet to make strides on the healthcare front. Even now, organ donation is viewed with fear by Keralites. Private and public health institutions are contributing a lot in this regard now,” the minister added.
He also inaugurated the ‘Amrita Hematocon 2014’ and the NAT test lab. Today there are limitations for tests to diagnose HIV-like infections in blood and the NAT test will help to resolve these issues. Noted journalist Leela Menon presented mementos to Gireesh and Sidhin.
