Deepak Patel, 42, a local builder and a brave heart living with a 36-year-old African’s heart beating in his bosom, plans to set up a unique state-wide network to create awareness about organ donation — which has remained an infrequent tendency in India.

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Patel has formed a non-government organisation (NGO), Shatayu. He has roped in the Red Cross and has made a proposal to the concerned government authorities to join them in this noble social cause.

Patel, an ex-patient of  mayopathy — a heart disease due to which the pumping count goes down — underwent a rare heart transplant surgery in Cape Town in 2004,  and wants to use his new lease of life to set up a network for organ donation.

In countries like US, UK and South Africa, public awareness about  vital organ donation exists. “While many are aware that eyes can be donated after death, there are thousands who are oblivious of the fact that other vital organs like heart, lungs, liver, intestine, pancreas and kidney too can be donated when one is brain dead.

And that it can give a new life to someone in dire need,” said Patel. Patel is determined to set up a state-wide system which closely monitors patients who require certain organs to survive, and wants to build up a database of the aspirant donors so that the procurement of the organ becomes faster. 

Shatayu plans a tie-up with the Road Transport Office, RTO, and aspires to develop a system - which is already in place in developed countries - in which the driving licence would note if the person has registered for organ donation.

Bhavna Chhabaria, head of  Shatayu, said, “Abroad there is a meticulous central system which documents the details of the patients’ needs and has a list of prospective  donors. With this system in place, the procedure for organ donation becomes efficient and time-saving and is the most critical factor while undertaking such tasks.”

Chhabaria, who too has dedicated herself to this cause, said, “We are in the process of documenting prospective donors. We organised three workshops in the last three months and enlisted about 550 individuals as aspirant donors.” Chhabaria said.