ROTTO PGIMER takes Organ Donation Awareness Drive to DAV College-10
Camp Garners Good Response with 76 Students pledging for Organ Donation
Encouraged by the success of student engagement program, ‘Be The Change, Be An Organ Donor’ in other educational institutions, Regional Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization (ROTTO) PGIMER took the Organ Donation Awareness Drive to DAV College, Sector 10 under the project and organized an Awareness Session for the students in the college premises here today.
The Session, organised by Department of Botany and Department of MLT was graced by the esteemed presence of Dr Pawan Kumar Sharma, Principal, DAV College, Sector 10, Dr. Ranju Gulati, Head, Deptt. of Botany, Dr Manju Diwan, Head, Deptt. of MLT and other senior faculty members from the organising departments. Prof. Vipin Koushal, Nodal Officer, ROTTO PGIMER was present on the occasion as the Guest Speaker and Dr. Sonali Guleria, Senior Faculty, Deptt. of Botany, DAV College, Sector 10 was the organiser of the Session.
Participated by over 200 students, the Session witnessed an enthusiastic response with 76 students pledging for organ donation on the spot and many taking the pledge forms for their family and friends as well as volunteering to .promote the cause.
Addressing as the Guest Speaker, Prof. Vipin Koushal stated, “The act of donating one’s organ during one’s lifetime is the most appreciable deed one can do. With waiting list getting longer, the gap between organ demand and availability widening at a fast pace and helpless patients dying every day while waiting for a transplant, it is vital that more and more of us pledge for organ donation.”
Prof Vipin Koushal emphasized that the solution to organ shortage is possible only through systematic strengthening of the deceased donor programme. Highlighting the seriousness of the situation, Prof. Koushal said, “In our country where over 5 lakh people are waiting for organ transplant, awareness about the cause can play a saviour for those suffering from organ failure and living in constant pain.”
Enthused with the interest showcased by the students, Prof. Vipin Koushal, stated, “Organ Donation is a social responsibility and we must all collaborate and synergise to make this National Programme on Organ Donation a success. It is really thoughtful of DAV College, Sector 10 for having taken this initiative. The college has not only highlighted the need to talk about the cause among the students, but also set an example for other institutions to follow.”
Earlier at the outset while setting the context for the Session, Principal Dr. Pawan Kumar Sharma said, “The basic ideology of DAV Institutions is to promote compassion and humanitarian spirit and nothing can instil a better feeling of love for humanity than being instrumental in saving someone’s life. Organ Donation is an altruistic cause and we must contribute whole heartedly towards creating an enabling environment for voluntary organ donation. This can only be done by moving from ego centric to eco centric approach, by losing yourself and connecting with others.”
Describing PGIMER as the temple of learning, the Principal made an impassioned appeal to the students to come forward and ‘give back to the society’ by pledging for Organ Donation. Dr Sharma also proposed to make this campaign a part of other student engagement activities as well.
A presentation on the initiatives being undertaken by ROTTO PGIMER to promote Organ Donation was made, followed by showcasing of a documentary based on the agonising life of a renal failure patient waiting for transplant, which left many in the hall with moist eyes.
The highlight of the event was the QA session that saw a very high level of engagement and interaction by the students. The session concluded on a positive note with 76 participants pledging for Organ Donation.
On the sidelines, the consultants from ROTTO PGIMER interacted with the interested students on one-on-one basis and addressed their queries pertaining to prevalent myths and misconceptions.