Donating organs is akin to gifting a new life: Nadda

On the occasion of 'World Organ Donation Day' Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda on Saturday said donating organs is akin to gifting a new life, adding that organ is a national resource and not even one should be wasted.

"Donating organs is akin to gifting a new life. Organ is a National Resource and not even one should be wasted. I, therefore, call upon all Indians to Pledge to donate organs after death and save many precious lives. Let organ donation become a national movement and show to the world that even in death; we care for our fellow citizens and the humanity at large," Nadda said.

The Border Security Force (BSF) handed over 1500 certificates to Nadda pledging to donate their organs at a function organised in collaboration with National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO), here today.

Nadda stated that this was a great initiative by BSF and would go a long way in spreading awareness about organ donation.

He further said that India's First Line of Defence, the BSF has been safeguarding our borders for the last 50 years and this was indeed another commendable service to the nation by them.

The Health Minister further said that the benefits of initiatives should reach out to every nook and corner of the country and should not be limited to cities only.

He added that the demand for organs is likely to increase manifold in future keeping in view the increased incidence of lifestyle diseases.

"There is a need to create a system for improving the rate of safe, effective and ethical donation of cadaver organs for transplantation in those who need them badly," he added.

The government is also taking various steps to simplify organ donor law/rules and procedures such as: Website of National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (www.notto.nic.in) which provides updated information and online facility for registering pledges for organ donation.

A 24x7 call centre with toll free helpline number (1800114770).

The ministry has also launched a National Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplant Registry.

The networking of transplant and/or retrieval hospitals has been started initially in Delhi and NCR.

Five regional level organizations called Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (ROTTO) have also been identified.

Professor Jagdish Prasad, DGHS and K K Sharma, DG, Border Security Force (BSF) along with the other senior officers from the BSF and the Health Ministry were also present at the function.