Novel Attempt to Create Large-scale Organ Donation Awareness Drive

In an effort to create large-scale awareness about the crying need for organ donation, members of MOHAN (Multi Organ Harvesting Aid Network) Foundation, coupled a Motorcycle Rally for Life and a signature campaign to include an organ donation clause in driving licenses in India.

Speaking on the valedictory function of the Rally for Life which was flagged off on 9^th September, Transport Commissioner for TamilNadu, South India, S. Machenranathan announced the inclusion of information regarding ‘Organ Donation Clause’ in the smart cards of driving licences and assured that the State Transport Department would explore the possibility of including the clause in the present cards.

Dr. Sunil Shroff, Managing Trustee, Mohan Foundation observed that a large scale organ donation awareness drive was imperative in India because there were only 0.08 organ donors per million population in India and the requirement for organs was steadily increasing. “We thought the best way to step up awareness would be to include a clause, ‘I wish to donate my organs after my death—Yes/ No’ in documents like driving licences or PAN cards,” he said. He added that a meeting with a representative from the Central Government later this week to encourage the inclusion of the clause on the national ID cards was also on their agenda.

Observing that no religion was against organ donation, State additional chief secretary Syed Munir Hoda called for a meeting of all religious heads to create awareness among all people to donate organs.

Film actor Revathy, the first registered organ donor with MOHAN Foundation in 1997, encouraged every organ donor to sensitize others, beginning with one’s family members, about the need to donate organs.

Six motorbike rallyists who took the organ donation campaign through nine cities covering around 2000kms were felicitated at the function held in Chennai yesterday.

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Source-Medindia
THK