SOTTO Goa Celebrates the SPIRIT OF GIVING
The State Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization (SOTTO) Goa Medical College marked Indian Organ Donation Day with a special event, “The Spirit of Giving”. Celebrated annually on August 3, this day honors the first heart transplant performed at AIIMS Delhi following the enactment of the Transplantation of Human Organs Act in 1994. The primary objective is to raise awareness and encourage organ donation within the community.
Dr. Preeti Varghese, Joint Director of SOTTO Goa in her welcome address said, that for a country like ours where the spirit of DAAN- the spirit of giving is inherent to our culture, there are 4-5 lakh people on the waiting list praying and hoping for a miracle of organ donation. Currently 80 patients are enlisted on the Nave Jivit, Deceased donor kidney wait list.
To celebrate the spirit of giving, SOTTO organized a Rangoli Competition themed ‘Angdaan – Jeevan Sanjivani Abhiyaan.’ 100 participants showcased their creativity through the vibrant rangoli designs that depicted Organ Donation – A GIFT OF LIFE.
In addition, a Continuing Medical Education (CME) lecture on topic “Kidney Transplant Outcome” was held. Dean Prof Dr. J.P. Tiwari elaborated about how the advances in the medical field have contributed to increasing the patient survival and graft survival post-transplant as also the donor safety in living donation.
With Raksha Bandhan just round the corner, a testimony of this Bond of love couldn’t have been more beautifully portrayed than by Mr. Umesh Dhavlikar who received this gift of life from his sister in 2015. In his words as Version 2.0, Mr. Umesh Dhavalikar, proudly captains Team India in the World Transplant Games (WTG) set to take place in mid-August in Germany. WTG is held every two years and organ donors as well as organ recipients participate. The aim of WTG is showing the world that life after transplant/organ donation can be healthy, active, and meaningful. He was felicitated by SOTTO Goa for leading the team and inspiring countless individuals facing organ failure.
The event’s highlight were the moving testimonies from organ donors and recipients, who shared their journey.
Mr. Prakash Pangul a kidney donor to his wife expressed, “When I got married, I vowed to stand by my wife in health and suffering and I kept my promise by donating a kidney to her.”
Mrs. Sangita Vijayvikram Nayak who donated liver to her brother in her testimony said, “It was a privilege to donate my liver and save my brother’s life. I am healthy post-donation and actively participate in cyclothons and marathons. There is a saying in Marathi ‘मरावे परी कीर्ती रुपी उरावे’ but I would say ‘मरावे परी अवयव रुपी उरावे’.”
Mr. Mark Rocha, a kidney recipient, shared his gratitude, stating, “I received a new life after the transplant, and I cherish every moment of this new beginning.”
In conclusion, Dean Goa Medical College administered the Organ Donation pledge
