Organ Donation Fortnight Begins in Maharashtra
Statewide Awareness Campaigns Launched; Health Minister Takes the Pledge
Mumbai, August 3 – In a bid to increase organ donation in Maharashtra and give new life to patients awaiting transplants, the state today launched the Organ Donation Fortnight with a range of awareness initiatives. Public Health and Family Welfare Minister Prakash Abitkar took the lead by personally filling out the organ donation form and taking a pledge, thus formally inaugurating the campaign. He urged citizens across the state to join the campaign and pledge to donate organs.
The Angdaan Jeevandaan Sanjeevani Abhiyan (Organ Donation – A Gift of Life Campaign) is being conducted from August 3 to August 15 across the state. During this period, extensive awareness drives and community-focused activities will be organized. Minister Abitkar has directed all concerned departments to carry out widespread outreach efforts.
Schools, colleges, NGOs, religious institutions, health organizations, and social workers will actively participate in the campaign. Institutions working in the field of organ donation at the national and state levels—including ROTTO, SOTTO, Regional Transplant Coordination Committees, and ZTCCs in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar—will collaborate in implementing the campaign throughout the state.
Organ donation is a social responsibility, and effective public awareness is essential to shift public opinion positively. The campaign aims to dispel fears, misconceptions, and superstitions surrounding organ donation and deliver accurate scientific information to the public. Throughout the fortnight, events will be held in every district, taluka, and health institution, as well as in schools and colleges.
On August 15, the campaign will culminate in district-level events where guardians of the districts (Ministers in charge) will honor the families of organ donors, adding an inspiring dimension to the movement.
The ultimate goal of the initiative is to spread the importance of organ donation across the state and make Maharashtra a leading state in this vital field. The State Health Department has committed to making the campaign a success with active public participation.
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