Marengo CIMS Hospital and Rotary Club Champion Organ Donation Awareness with Cyclothon and Walkathon
- Marengo CIMS Hospital and Rotary Club collaborated for this event over a common goal of promoting organ donation awareness
- The cycle rally witnessed the participation of six hospitals across the three locations
- Awareness sessions were conducted to educate participants and hospital staff about the significance of organ donation across the participating hospitals
Ahmedabad: Marengo CIMS Hospital Ahmedabad, in collaboration with the Rotary Club Ahmedabad, organized a Cyclothon and Walkathon event on Sunday, 1st September 2024. This was truly a powerful display of community spirit and commitment to a life-saving cause. The event was flagged off in the wee hours of the morning from three different locations of Ahmedabad – Marengo CIMS Hospital, Sola, L G Hospital, Maninagar & SMS Multispecialty Hospital, Chandkheda. The public witnessed an overwhelming participation of over 1,000 people, uniting for the noble cause of Organ Donation. Marengo CIMS Hospital in association with the Rotary Club plans to continue such initiatives, ensuring that the message of organ donation reaches every corner of the community the hospital serves.
The initiative was an inclusive part of ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the urgent need for organ donation. Collaborating towards the advocacy for organ donation, the participants covered significant distances in the cycling rally, stopping at two local hospitals in each location. During these visits, dedicated awareness sessions were conducted to educate the public and hospital staff on the importance of organ donation.
Dr Keyur Parikh, Chairman, Marengo CIMS Hospital expressed his happiness and said, “We are thrilled to see the response to this event. Organ donation is the highest act of humanity that can save countless lives, and we hope that this event will inspire more people to come forward and pledge their organs. We also hope to encourage more and more people to become increasingly aware of this most noble act of humanity.”
Dr Urmil Shah, Interventional Cardiologist at Marengo CIMS Hospital and Ahmedabad Region Chair for 2024-25 of Rotary District 3055, stated: “As we pedal and walk through the streets of Ahmedabad, we are not just raising awareness, we are building a movement. A movement that celebrates the generosity of organ donors, honors the memories of those who have given the gift of life, and inspires a new generation to follow in their footsteps. Organ donation is a testament to humanity’s capacity for kindness, empathy, and selflessness. Through this initiative, we are not only promoting a noble cause but also fostering a sense of community and social responsibility that will resonate throughout our city and beyond.
Dr Urmil Shah adds, “Rotary has taken a significant initiative to increase organ donation awareness, aiming to fulfil the growing need for organs such as hearts, kidneys, livers, and lungs for patients with end-stage conditions. Our efforts today are just the beginning of a larger mission to ensure that no patient is left without hope due to the lack of available organs.”
Dr Dhiren Shah, Director Heart – Lung Transplant Program & MCS Program, Marengo CIMS Hospital, emphasized the importance of such initiatives, stating, “Organ donation is one of the most selfless acts a person can perform, offering the gift of life to those in desperate need. Events like today’s not only raise awareness but also inspire others to consider becoming donors. The overwhelming support we have seen here today reflects a growing consciousness about the vital role of organ donation. As a Heart Transplant Surgeon, I have personally witnessed the incredible impact it has with 53 heart failure patients given a second chance at life through heart transplant.”
Mr Mohan Parasar, District Governor, Rotary District 3055, said, “I am honored to see our Rotarians leading the charge in promoting organ donation awareness. This initiative is a shining example of our district’s commitment to serving humanity and making a meaningful difference in our communities. Let us continue to ride and walk for a cause that unites us all and inspires us to be forces for good in the society.”
Organ donation and transplantation allow a deceased or living donor to give life to another. Organs that can be transplanted include the liver, kidney, heart, and lungs. NOTTO (National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation) celebrates the Indian Organ Donation Day (IODD) every year to spread awareness about organ donation, dispel myths and misconceptions associated with organ donation, and motivate and encourage the citizens of the country to donate organs and tissues after death, as well as to imbibe the value of organ donation. Tamil Nadu ranks first in deceased organ donation rate at 1.8 pmp as of 2018, a figure seven times higher than the national average. India ranks third in the world only behind USA and China as per the data available on the Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation (GODT) website. The total number of organ transplants done per year in the country has increased from 4990 in the year 2013 to 15,561 in the year 2022.
