• In the last one year, 817 got a new life in Gujarat with the help of organ donation

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], July 31: The Indian philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” – the World is one family – can help overcome the stigma related to donating organs of a deceased/brain-dead family member and help people take a conscious decision for this noble cause, said Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel while stressing on the need for greater awareness to increase the acceptability for organ donation.

“As Hon Prime Minister Narendra Modi always emphasises on the idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
So, it is apt to consider the whole world as our family and all families as our own. The moment of losing a loved one is a tough time to take such decisions, but such understanding would make the decision for organ donation easier. It is only a matter of spreading awareness for it.”

The Chief Minister informed that last year a total of 817 people from Gujarat received new life as 670 living people and 203 brain-dead people decided to donate their organs.

Leaders from the medical fraternity, doctors, scientists, academicians, corporate leaders and senior journalists from media houses remained present at the event named” Angdaan Mahotsav” held at Hyatt Regency, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad on Sunday.

Gujarat’s Health Minister, Rushikesh Patel, addressed the gathering and said, “Organ donation is also a life donation. Medical science has progressed a lot, but to connect this activity with mainstream medical activity, we need a greater level of awareness and convincing of the families to join this valuable cause. Let’s take this up as a mission and help other citizens get a better life.”

It is noteworthy that the Gujarat government has made budgetary support to make the ecosystem for organ donation more robust.

On the occasion, Ajay Patel, Chairman of the Gujarat Chapter of the Indian Red Cross Society, said, “If Indian Medical Association extends its support and the Indian Red Cross Society along with the Cooperative sector and Chamber of Commerce and media jointly make efforts for the cause, then we can scale new heights in organ donation. If we need to reach 100% coverage from the current 25%, we need people’s support.”

Jointly organised by the State Organ Tissue and Transplantation Organisation (SOTTO), Gujarat Chapter of the Indian Medical Association and Gujarat Media Club, the event recognised and honoured the unsung heroes of the society, including donors, doctors, coordinators, police, voluntary organisations and government departments.

Ten such donor families from places like Surat, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, and Bhuj were felicitated by the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister also appreciated the efforts of non-government organisations, Government departments, police and doctors, who are tirelessly working to encourage organ donation activities in Gujarat.

Academician and administrator at SOTTO, Dr Dhaval Naik, said, “Gujarat made history when we successfully performed a heart transplant about 6.5 years ago. The far-sightedness of Gujarat has enabled infrastructure for faster organ/cadaver movement through air ambulance. Gujarat became the first State in the country to do so. Among many measures the state has taken, the Gujarat government also provides up to Rs 7.5-10 lakh assistance for heart and lung transplant patients.”

From the media’s perspective, Nirnay Kapoor, President of Gujarat Media Club, said, “Media holds an important role as a major stakeholder in organ donation campaign as the success stories shown by the media sensitise people about this cause and change their approach about it. At GMC, we joined this movement about two years ago, and we are happy that it has reached this scale now.”

The Chief Minister also felicitated media persons for their contribution to covering health and related issues. Among others included Ronak Patel of ABP Asmita, Photojournalist Amit Dave of Reuters, Shayar Rawal of Divya Bhaskar and Brendan Dabhi of Ahmedabad Mirror newspaper.

The Gujarat Branch of IMA handed over to the Chief Minister a Vision Document 2023 on Organ Donation in Gujarat. The Vision Document presented views about establishing a robust organ donation ecosystem with the objective of becoming a leading model for organ donation in India.

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