DAAN 2014: An Awareness Drive on Organ Donation

The Department of Communicative English conducted the culminating function of their month long Public Relations Campaign, “DAAN 2014: An Awareness Drive on Organ Donation” on September 25, 2014.  Honourable Minister of State for Social Welfare and Panchayath, Dr. M.K. Muneer inaugurated the function. He also offered to contribute a sum of money towards the wedding expense of one of the recipients present at the function, Ms. Remya. She was the first to undergo kidney transplantation surgery, courtesy of the Deceased Donor Transplantation Program by Govt. Medical College, Kottayam. She comes from a financially challenged family and her wedding will take place on October 26th 2014.

The Hon. Minister declared that a sum of Rs. 1000 would be granted to all patients undergoing dialysis, monthly. Patients who have undergone organ transplant would be eligible to receive this benefit for 5 years. He hopes to include APL patients too under this scheme.

An awareness session was conducted by Dr. Jayakumar, HOD, Department of Nephrology, Kottayam Medical College, Central Zone Officer, KNOS. Xavier Kochukudiyil, founder-president, Fellowship of Organ Transplantees (Fort) was also present.

The campaign was conducted along with the Central Zone of the Kerala Network for Organ Sharing (KNOS), the official organ and transplantation programme of the Department of Health, Government of Kerala. The month long awareness initiative was launched on August 06, World Organ Donation Day.

The students of the Department conducted flash mobs and street plays in various parts of the city to raise general awareness. The campaign also featured a rally on Independence Day by the Bullet Buddhas Riders Club to garner attention for the cause.

A fundraiser concert “Music For Life”, featuring playback singer Siddharth Menon of Thaikkudam Bridge, singer Kavya and DJ Savyo was also conducted. An amount of Rs 25,000/- each was donated to six organ transplant recipients for their treatment.