New Delhi, August 3,KDC: Jammu & Kashmir was awarded the title of Best Emerging State/UT in Organ Donation and Transplantation on the 14th Indian Organ Donation Day. The prestigious accolade was presented at a ceremony hosted by the National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) at Bhim Hall, Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.
According to Srinagar based news gathering agency Kashmir Dot Com, the award was presented by Anupriya Patel, Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare and Chemical & Fertilizers. Accepting the award on behalf of Jammu & Kashmir was the dedicated team from SOTTO J&K, including Dr. Elias Sharma, Nodal Officer SOTTO J&K and Head of Urology & Kidney Transplantation at GMC Jammu, Dr. Sanjeev Puri, Joint Director SOTTO J&K, Anshu Sharma, Media Consultant, and Mr. Irfan Lone, Transplant Coordinator.
The ceremony also recognized the families of deceased donors, honouring their significant contributions to saving lives through organ donation. The event emphasized the importance of deceased organ donation and transplantation in India, showcasing the efforts of individuals and organizations dedicated to this cause.
In her address, Minister Anupriya Patel commended the altruism of donor families and highlighted the urgent need to prevent end-stage organ failures. She also advocated for increased cadaveric donations to address the organ shortage in India.
Distinguished guests at the event included Dr. Vinod K. Paul, Member (Health) of NITI Aayog, Sh. Apurva Chandra, Secretary of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, and Dr. Atul Goel, Director General of Health Services, Government of India. They shared insights on advancing organ donation and transplantation across the country.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Sh. Anil Kumar, Director of NOTTO, who expressed gratitude to all participants and stakeholders for their unwavering support and commitment to the mission of organ donation and transplantation in India. (KDC)
