Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagde said that organ donation is the noblest form of selfless service to humanity. He remarked that the greatest obstacle to organ donation is the fear that exists in people's minds. This fear must be eliminated, and people need to be motivated to come forward for organ donation. He appealed to society to dispel the misconceptions and myths associated with organ donation.
The Governor was addressing an Organ Donation Awareness Program at the Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS). He noted that India's first successful kidney transplant was performed in Tamil Nadu on December 1, 1971. Expressing concern that, despite this milestone achieved decades ago, awareness about organ donation remains inadequate, he said that Organ Donation Day should not merely be observed as a commemorative event but should be transformed into a people's movement. He also emphasised the need to run parallel campaigns promoting both organ donation and public health awareness.
Highlighting healthy lifestyle practices, the Governor remarked that while people avoid eating rotis prepared a day earlier at home, they often consume commercially available bread that may be much older. He stressed the importance of improving dietary habits and building a society free from addiction.
At the outset, the Governor paid tribute to all the noble souls who donated their organs and gave a new lease of life to others. He also administered the Organ Donation Pledge to those present. He said that every year, lakhs of people in India lose their lives due to the non-availability of organs for transplantation. The demand for kidneys, liver, heart, and lungs continues to far exceed their availability. Therefore, it is essential to make people understand that organ donation has the power to bring a new dawn of hope into someone else's life.
The Governor stated that approximately 500,000 people in India die every year because they are unable to receive an organ transplant in time. He observed that while India has well-developed organ transplant facilities, the number of organ donors remains very low. He stressed the need not only to inspire people to donate organs but also to expand organ donation-related services across the state and ensure that all hospitals are adequately equipped with facilities required for organ transplantation.
Earlier, Prof. Pramod Yeole, Vice-Chancellor of the Rajasthan University of Health Sciences, Jaipur, and Dr. Mohnish Grover, Principal of RUHS College of Medical Sciences, highlighted the importance of organ donation and the objectives of the awareness program. The Governor also felicitated doctors who have made significant contributions to promoting organ donation awareness and honored students who excelled in the Organ Donation Awareness Competition.
