This NGO raises awareness on organ transplant, aids the poor

Most Indians coming from lower income backgrounds aren't aware of the concept of organ donation, according to an NGO.

To raise awareness on organ donation and aid the poor in availing one, Transplant - Help the Poor Foundation, an NGO, has been reaching out to the masses.

CY Pal, founder of the organisation, said, "In our country, the rate of organ donation is very low. While it has improved over the past three to four years, lack of awareness still looms large. Every year, over 3 lakh people require organ transplant in India, but only 2 to 3 per cent of the demand is met. Finance becomes a major obstacle, too. The poor are unable to shell out enough money to get a transplant done and require aids from social organisations."

"So far, the foundation has raised money for organ transplant through crowd funding for around 10 patients," he added.

Recently, a six-year-old boy, who was suffering from congenital liver disease, received required parts from his aunt, as his parents were not suitable donors. Around Rs 26 lakh crowd-sourced to raise the cost of the surgery.

Dr Darius Mirza, Liver Transplant Surgeon, and one of the founders of the organisation, said: "Even though organ transplant is cheaper in India compared to other countries, it remains unaffordable for the poor. There is a lack of awareness not only among the public, but also among medical professionals with regards to the process of donating an organ and transplanting it; the system lacks structure."

There are two major types of organ transplants — cadaver and living. Fifteen per cent transplants in are cadaver and 85 per cent are live.