Thousands turn up for organ donation run

Addressing the gathering, he said that the former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa made a huge stride in the field of organ donation in the State by setting Transtan (Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu). He said, “Every year, between August 13 and November 27, various programmes are undertaken to create awareness among the public regarding organ donation. Until now, 6708 organs have been harvested from 1171 donors. Moreover, the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance scheme has an allotment of up to Rs 35 lakh for organ transplantation — the highest sum in the country.” Stating that a double hand transplant, the first of its kind in the State was also carried out in February this year. He further said the 29-year-old man on whom the transplant was done, lost his hands in an accident. Later, a brain dead man was found as a donor.

He added that air ambulance services will be introduced soon by the government, as part of the various steps being taken to upgrade health facilities in the State. He pointed out, “For the third time in a row, the State bagged the first place in organ transplantation in the country.” He added that the state will continue to make efforts to make organ donation a people’s movement through various activities and be a frontrunner in the field.

The event saw participation of around 5000 people, including students from medical colleges and the public. The event was attended by J Radhakrishnan, State Health Secretary, Dr K Senthil Raj, project director, Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society and Uma Maheswari, Project Director of Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project.