Rotary-OCHRI Skin bank is doing a yeoman service for the solace of needy burn victims of Central India by processing cadaveric skin and providing them as skin grafts for burn patients. This 1st Skin Bank of Central India has come as a boon for burn victims of Central India. Rotary Club of Nagpur was instrumental in donating equipment’s for this skin bank which is maintained by Nagpur based Orange City Hospital & Research Institute on no profit basis. The Cadaveric skin which is processed scientifically in this skin bank is subsequently used a biological burn dressing by all major burns surgeons of Central India. The working methodology & technical knowhow of this bank is provided by National Burns Centre, Mumbai. Although the unit works on no profit no loss basis; basic recurring costs is being charged to incoming patients albeit cadaveric skin graft is 10 times lower than artificial grafts.
Recently, a review meeting was held to review the performance of Rotary-OCHRI Skin bank. Rotary Club of Nagpur appreciated the efforts of OCHRI which has extended a credit limit of around Rs.21 lacs till date to maintain the establishment. Need of more public awareness of skin donation and utilisation was felt and was assured by RCN. RCN conveyed that MOIL has generously agreed to provide a grant initially for Rs.5 lacs wherein needy poor burn patients admitted in government hospitals will now be provided skin free of costs from this skin bank. Meeting by RCN to finalise the said MOU with MOIL will be undertaken shortly.
Smt. Reena Sinha- President, Shri.Kapil Bahri- President elect, Shri.Prasant Kale, Dr. Sameer Choubey and Shri. Amitabha Sharma of Rotary Club of Nagpur spoke on this occasion and prepared a blueprint to ensure optimum utilisation & viability of Rotary OCHRI Skin Bank. At the outset, Dr. Anup Marar- OCHRI Director and Dr. Sameer Jahagirdar, Burns & Plastic Surgeon & Incharge- Rotary OCHRI Skin bank welcomed the members and highlighted the progress. Prominently present on this occasion also were Shri.Simha Chalam, Shri.Roy Thomas and Shri.Santosh Mykalwar, Skin Bank Technician. Shri.Ganesh Iyer and Shri. Pankaj Wadaskar worked hard for the success of this meeting.
Social circles have complimented TEAM OCHRI and Rotary Club of Nagpur to have envisaged such a unique social venture which not only reduces mortality and morbidity of burn victims but reduces their physical and mental agony apart from cost reduction in treatment vis-à-vis artificial grafts. This skin bank is the first such bank of Central India. It is added that only 1/10th of skin is obtained by a fine shaving machine like imported unit from the donors and its does not disfigure the body in any manner.