1,500 Border Security Force men pledge to donate organs

NEW DELHI: To bring awareness among Border Security Force (BSF) personnel and their families, the force, in collaboration with National Organ and Tissue Transplantation

NEW DELHI: To bring awareness among Border Security Force (BSF) personnel and their families, the force, in collaboration with National Organ and Tissue Transplantation Organisation (NOTTO), observed Organ Donation Day in the Capital on Saturday.

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Nearly 1,500 certificates from BSF were handed over to Union health minister JP Nadda, pledging to donate their organs.

“We are very much aware that due to non-availability of transplantable organs, many precious lives are lost in our country. We have been counselling and educating our men regarding the importance of organ donation and its humanitarian value,” said Dr AP Maheshwari, additional DG, BSF.

“Our men are also being encouraged to educate their family members and relatives,” he said.

With the event in Delhi, BSF has begun organ donation drive within the force comprising more than 10 lakh members.

“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,” said Nadda.

“Let organ donation become a national movement and let’s show to the world that even in death, we care for our fellow citizens and the humanity at large,” he added.

India suffers from acute shortage of cadaver organ donation.

An estimated 200,000 people in India need a new kidney and 100,000 need a new liver each year, but only 2%-3% of the total demand for organs is met.