Taking a positive step

Awareness programme

Fortis Hospitals, Bangalore, in collaboration with St Joseph’s College conducted a three-day organ donation campaign — ‘More To Give’  — to highlight and spread awareness about organ donation among the  public. 

The campaign took place at various branches of St Joseph’s College (MG Road, Brigade Road, St Mark’s Road, Residency Road and Richmond Road traffic signals). More than 150 students were a part of the campaign in which they stood at the traffic signals holding placards with organ donation slogans to create awareness.

The students also distributed organ donation forms to the public while they waited at the signal. Leading by example, more than 500 students from the college pledged to donate their organs.

Speaking at the event, Dr Vivek Jawali, chairman, Department of Cardio Vascular Sciences, chairman of the Medical Advisory Council, Fortis Hospitals, Karnataka said, “In India, finding a donor match is a difficult task for the organ recipient’s family and this challenge is compounded by lack of awareness. Over the last five years, the organ donation rate in the country has increased ten-fold from 0.05 to 0.5 per
million and is likely to touch the 1 per million population mark in 2016. We have made a start but still have a long way to go.”

Vital organs such as the heart, pancreas, liver, kidneys and lungs can be transplanted to those whose organs are failing. A single donor can save eight lives by donating the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas and small bowel.

Dr Jawali added, “India experiences acute shortage of organ donors every year. The lack of knowledge about the organ donation is quite evident and this is what we want to achieve through campaigns like this. An organ donation means giving a second chance at life to someone and allows them to return to a normal lifestyle.”

“These initiatives have the ability to spur people to come forward to donate organs of their deceased beloved. This will save and help elevate the quality of lives of many patients in need of organs,” he added.