New Delhi: Indian Premiere League (IPL) team Delhi Capitals joined Fortis to unveil a new symbol for Organ donation, on April 16, in New Delhi. Over the last 4 years, the combined efforts of Fortis and NDTV under the campaign “More to Give” has created a buzz around cadaver organ donations in India. Their consistent work in the area has helped countless people understand organ donation as well as fight the stigma attached to the noble deed.
Even though, India still has one of the lowest rates of Organ donation worldwide, National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) registered more than 14 Lakh potential organ donors in 2018. In light of these developments and the steady rise in organ donation awareness, Fortis facilitated the creation of a brand new symbol for organ donation.
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Jasrita Dhir, Head – Brand, Marketing & CSR at Fortis Healthcare, said,
When we look at a red dot we know it’s for blood donation, when we see a pink ribbon we know it’s for breast cancer awareness, we felt that it was high time that Organ donation, which saves lives, must have a symbol of it its own.
Cricketers Prithvi Shaw, Kagiso Rabada and Shikhar Dhawan from team Delhi Capitals joined the event to show their support for the cause and to unveil the new symbol- a sequence of three dots that stand for the continuity of life.
Cricketer Prithvi Shaw said,
There is nothing bigger than saving someone’s life.
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Whereas Shikhar Dhawan announced,
I have already pledged my eyes and would like to pledge my organs as well. I believe we all must pledge our organs.
South African international cricketer who is also a part of Delhi Capitals in IPL 2019, Kagiso Rabada said,
This is a really great initiative, if someone I love needs an organ and I or someone else can give it, then I would say yes, we all must pledge our organs.
The champion cricketers also took to a blank canvas to paint their message to the world about how Organ donation saves lives.
NDTV – Fortis More To Give campaign aims to promote organ donation and encourage Indians to take the pledge to be an organ donor. India has among the lowest rates of organ donation in the world at 0.5 donor per million population, which is far less compared to over 30 donors per million in some western countries. On an average, five lakh Indians die every year unable to get an organ transplant in time due to the shortage of organs. Every year on National Organ Donation Day on November 27, a Walkathon is organised across different cities of India to raise awareness, bust myths about organ donation and encourage people to become organ donors. Over the years, the campaign has gathered support from celebrities like actor Irrfan Khan, Swara Bhasker, Gul Panag and Former Indian Hockey Captain Sandeep Singh.
