On the eve of the International Women’s Day, three women from Coimbatore pledged to donate their body to Coimbatore Medical College (CMC) for anatomy study of medical students. The trio took the decision at a time when medical institutions are in a dearth for cadaver for anatomy studies.
Shantha Anantharaman (62) from Madampatti, Amutha Ravikumar (44) from Kuniyamuthur, and A. Kalaiselvi (34) from Kanjikode, handed over affidavits to Resident Medical Officer R. Soundravel on Thursday, expressing their willingness to donate body to the institution after death. The three women came together for the noble cause through Kuniyamuthur native Raja Sethumurali of Pasiyara Soru, an initiative to feed the hungry and destitute, who has so far guided 73 people to pledge their bodies to CMC.
According to Ms. Ravikumar, who had been working as nurse in a private hospital till last year, she decided to donate her body so that it will be useful for study purposes of medical students.
Ms. Anantharaman, a retired employee of a private company, said that she had already pledged to donate her eyes to a private eye hospital in the city. She later came to know about the procedures involved in whole body donation through Mr. Sethumurali. “My children nodded as soon as I told them the wish to donate body after death for anatomy studies,” she said.
Ms. Kalaiselvi is working as a lab assistant in a private college in the city.
“The three woman have passed on a noble message by pledging their bodies on the eve of International Women’s Day. Their gesture will create more awareness about body donation,” said Mr. Sethumurali, who took the pledge for whole body donation in 2010.