MARGAO
The near two-month long organ donation padyatra from Mumbai culminated at the Lohia Maidan, Margao, on Sunday, with experts saying that 90 per cent of live donors are women and that females and not males are more forthcoming in donating their organs.
In fact, former IMA President Dr Shekhar Salkar stated that in the 16 organs kidney transplants that have taken place in Goa, only three men came forward to donate their organs, even as experts and politicos underlined the need to spread awareness about organ donation to the nook and corners of the country.
The padyatra, which was organised by Giants Welfare Foundation and Federation of Organ and Body Donation, culminated at the Lohia Maidan with an awareness programme attended by former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar, Dr Shekhar Salkar and representatives of Giants Welfare Foundation and Federation of Organ and Body Donation.
In his brief address, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat said that he has pledged to donate his organs and has underlined the need to take the organ donation exercise to the nook and corners of the state. “This awareness on organ donation should start from the families and then spread to the society,” he said.
Dr Shekar Salkar reminded that when people donate an organ they save a life. He said body tissues can also be donated by citizens.
Deepak D’Souza of Giants Welfare Foundation stressed on the need to make organ donation a national mission, even as South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar offered his full support to the programme in the state.
Speaking on the occasion, Holy Spirit Church Parish Priest Fr Avinash Rebello said human organs are a gift of God and can be donated to save lives.
