“Ace cricketer, Gautam Gambhir, launches ‘Gift A Life’ Initiative – An initiative to create awareness about organ donation, supported by the Apollo Transplant Institutes “

Gautam Gambhir, one of India’s top cricketers, launched ‘Gift A Life’ initiative at Delhi. The initiative along with its website is supported by the Apollo Transplant Institutes, to encourage people to take a pledge for donating organs to save countless lives in the process. The mission of ‘Gift A Life’ is to ensure that no person in India dies for want of an organ. This public awareness initiative aims to bring together information and awareness on the issue of organ donation. The website endeavors to start and then sustain a movement on organ donation and awareness.

Dr. Anupam Sibal, Group Medical Director and Senior Pediatric Gastroenterologist, Apollo Hospitals, Delhi, said, “We desperately need to create awareness about organ donation while in Spain 33 per million population organ donations take place, in India the rate is 0.1 per million population. It is now more than 15 years since the law declaring brain death came into effect in India, yet there is limited awareness that one individual can gift lives to atleast 8 patients with organ failure. As a clinician it really pains to lose a child for want of an organ.”

Taking the pledge, Gautam Gambhir said, “Thousands die every year for want of organs and I feel through initiatives like ‘Gift a Life’ we can do society good by bridging the gap. I appeal to the media to create awareness about organ donation. I would like to urge everyone to make this decision to donate their organs.”

Leading specialists from Apollo Hospitals were present at the Press Conference held for the launch, showcasing their support towards the initiative.

Shortage of donors and organs has impeded the necessary thrust required to save more lives. More than one lakh people need replacement treatment for their ailments and living donors suffice only a fraction of the demand.

‘Gift A Life’ would like to encourage everyone to pledge to donate their organs simply by signing up on the website – www.giftalife.org.