Bengaluru: Fortis Hospital, Cunningham Road in partnership with Sophia High School, Palace Road organized a walkathon here on Sunday. More than 500 students participated in the walkathon with an aim to support the noble cause of organ donation. The walk was flagged off at 6:30 AM from Sofia School and the group returned to the starting point covering a distance of 3 Km. The students raised few slogans en route to create the awareness about organ donation.
The Walkathon is a part of Fortis’ #MoretoGive campaign to encourage a dialogue about the need for organ donation by taking it to the streets of the city where the students show their support for the cause.
Speaking at the occasion, Dr Vishnuvardhan, Facility Director, Fortis Hospital, Cunningham Road said, “Organ donation is one of the most effective way to save and enrich lives of people waiting for an organ. It is only lack of awareness that has proved to be an impediment for such a low organ donation rate in the country. Walkathon is an initiative to raise awareness among the people to feel the need of organ donation. With the enthusiastic support by the students to the cause, it will beneficial for us to deliver our message on organ donation effectively. We have made a start but still have a long way to go.”
As per an independent research report, there is a poor Organ Donation Rate – 0.26 per million in India. With a 1 per million-donation rate, India would have 1,100 organ donors or 2,200 kidneys, 1,000 hearts, 1,100 Livers, 1,100 Pancreas and 2,200 Eyes.
This should take care of almost all current demands for organs. There is a need of roughly 200,000 kidneys, 50,000 hearts and 50,000 livers for transplantation each year. There is a lack of awareness among people with regards to deceased organ donation, the concept of brain death and the process of organ transplantation.
A single donor can save eight lives by donating the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas and small bowel. Also, by donating organs and tissues like eyes, skin, bones etc., a single donor can touch several lives. 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.
