Photo Caption: Dr. Darez Ahmed, Director National Health Mission handing over mementos of honor to the Donor Sathish’s father Mr.Govindaraj.
Photo Caption: Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Executive Chairman Apollo Hospitals along with Dr. Darez Ahmed, Director National Health Mission at the organ donation drive launch at Apollo Hospitals Chennai
• Nine lives can be saved from one donor
• One donor can change the life of 50 people
• India needs 2 lakh kidneys and close to 1 lakh liver donors every year
Chennai, August 21 2017: Apollo Hospitals, Asia’s largest and most trusted multi-specialty chain of hospitals today launched an organ donation awareness drive honouring the organ donors ‘ families at Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road. “Tree of Life”, a banyan tree replica was installed at the Apollo Main hospital with lamps embossed with the donor names as a tribute to their contribution of gifting a life or lives. As a part of the 30-day awareness campaign, Apollo Hospitals Group is also running a digital pledge to spread the awareness and to motivate people to pledge to donate their organs.
Dr Prathap C. Reddy, Executive-Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group and Ms. Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group participated in the event and felicitated the donor families.
A single donor can save up to nine lives and can help as many as 50 people. Every year, almost 5 lakh people lose their lives in India due to non-availability of organs. Over 50,000 people await for a kidney transplant, but only 5000 get one. The situation of shortage is almost similar for the vital organs such as heart, liver, lungs, and pancreas. Apollo Hospitals reiterated its commitment to organ donation and transplant through this special event that celebrates the spirit of life and the generous act of organ donation.Donor families were acknowledged with mementos for the efforts taken by them to gift lives.
Emphasizing on the need for awareness on organ donation in India Dr. Prathap C. Reddy,Executive Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group, said “Millions of people worldwide suffer due to organ failure, whose lives can only be saved by timely replacement of failed organs. One donor could make a difference in almost 50 people’s lives. Though the organ
Speaking on the occasion Ms. Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “Heart and lung diseases are seen on the rise in children and young adults, it is devastating both in terms of early death and crippling disability at a very young age. The only solution to this is an organ transplantation. It is important to spread donor awareness so that the pool of donors increases and more people with heart and lung diseases can benefit. Today, it is heartwarming to see the families that volunteered to donate organs, thereby gifting a life to others.”
‘Tree of Life’ – 11 feet banyan tree was set up at Apollo Hospital, Greams Road to remember the donors for their life saving gift. Lanterns carrying donor names were hung on the tree to honour their gift of life. Around 25 donor families were present on the occasion and were felicitated by the dignitaries. As a part of the 30-day awareness campaign Apollo Hospitals Group is also running a digital pledge to spread the awareness and to motivate people to pledge to donate their organs. Several awareness programmes are being carried out in various corporate, schools, colleges and malls across Chennai.
ABOUT APOLLO HOSPITALS
It was in 1983, that Dr. Prathap Reddy made a pioneering endeavour by launching India’s first corporate hospital – Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. Over the years Apollo Hospitals has established itself as home to the largest cardiac practice in India with over 160,000 cardiac surgeries. Apollo Hospitals is also the world’s largest private cancer care provider and runs the world’s leading solid organ transplant program. As Asia’s largest and most trusted healthcare group, its presence includes 9,215 beds across 64 Hospitals, 2,500 Pharmacies, over 90 Primary Care and Diagnostic Clinics, 110 plus Telemedicine Centres and 80 plus Apollo Munich Insurance branches spanning the length and breadth of the Country. As an integrated healthcare service provider with Health Insurance services, Global Projects Consultancy capability, over 15 medical education centres and a Research Foundation with a focus on global Clinical Trials, epidemiological studies, stem cell & genetic research Apollo Hospitals has been at the forefront of new medical breakthroughs with the most recent investment being that of commissioning the first Proton Therapy Center across Asia, Africa and Australia in Chennai, India. Every four days, the Apollo Hospitals Group touches a million lives, in its mission to bring healthcare of International standards within the reach of every individual. In a rare honour, the Government of India issued a commemorative stamp in recognition of Apollo’s contribution, the first for a healthcare organization. Apollo Hospitals Chairman, Dr. Prathap C Reddy, was conferred with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan in 2010. For more than 30 years, the Apollo Hospitals Group has continuously excelled and maintained leadership in medical innovation, world-class clinical services and cutting-edge technology. Our hospitals are consistently ranked amongst the best hospitals globally for advanced medical services and research.
