Bengaluru’s Top Hospitals Join Hands To Spread Awareness On Organ Donation

Top hospitals in Bengaluru join hands to spread awareness on organ donation. Check here for details.

Monday, October 23, 2017, 11:42

To commemorate the Organ Donation Day, Young Indians Bengaluru Chapter, part of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), organized an event Bengaluru which witnessed city's top hospitals come together to spread awareness on organ donation and inspire one million Indians to Gift An Organ.

Sankara Eye Hospital, Fortis Hospital, Columbia Asia, Apollo Hospitals, Sakra World Hospital and Manipal Hospitals participated in the event.

Though the first transplant was performed in 1954, we continue to be plagues with myths, which prevents over 5,00,000 Indians who lose their lives due to lack of organ donation& transplant.

A panel discussion with expert transplant surgeons explored why India's organ donation rate in 2016 stood at an abysmal 0.8 persons per million population compared to Spain's 36 per million. Lack of awareness, myths and expertise among doctors to harvest organs were attributed.

Most families are distraught during the event of a death and are unable to think about the concept of Organ Donation. Grief Counsellors in hospitals and an implied consent that would enable organs to be harvested based on the wishes of the departed could help overcome this.

"Gift An Organ, is one of the key projects of Young Indians (Yi) to give the much needed impetus to create awareness on organ donation across the country. While great work is carried out by individual organisations, it is important for us to collaborate and we are overwhelmed with the support we have received today. We hope to inspire a Million Indians to pledge and Gift An Organ", said Dr Kaushik Murali, Chair, Young Indians - CII, Bengaluru & President - Sankara Eye Foundation, India.

International dance star Lourd Vijay, who underwent a kidney transplant, flagged off the 'Spreading Hope Foundation Drive'. "Having received a new lease of life post undergoing the transplant I am embarking on a 45 day drive up to Kashmir & back, to spread word and encourage people to donate organs to save lives",he said.