On November 25, 2020, MOHAN Foundation in association with Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance (ETLI) virtually launched the 2nd edition of an organ donation awareness drive - #NoMoreWaiting 2.0. This initiative aims to focus on two major objectives. Firstly, to educate people through an online organ donation volunteering program via which they can become Organ Donation Ambassadors and spread awareness. Secondly, MF and ETLI will jointly raise funds through online events/concerts to help the unprivileged sections of society who cannot afford organ transplants.
Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance (ETLI) is a leading financial services organisation, committed to the socio-economic development of the country. The 1st edition of the organ donation drive was launched by MOHAN Foundation - Edelweiss in November 2019 to create and promote awareness on organ donation. The initiative culminated in a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for most pledges (54,626) received by an organ donation campaign in 24 hours and garnered over 1 lakh pledges during the course of one month.
Mr. Rahul Bose, a celebrated actor and social activist has been the face of the initiative and aims to harness his social influence in spreading awareness for this life-saving cause.
Mr. Rashesh Shah-Chairman, Edelweiss Group, Mr. Sumit Rai, MD & CEO, Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance, Mr. Abhishek Gupta, Chief Marketing Officer, Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance, Dr. Sunil Shroff, Managing Trustee, MOHAN Foundation, Dr. Promila Gupta, Principal Consultant, Directorate General of Health Services, Mr. Rahul Bose, Actor & Social Activist were the keynote speakers of the launch event.
Belo are some of the key points conveyed by the speakers -
Mr. Sumit Rai said:
- ETLI deeply resonates with the cause of organ donation because it coincides with its vision of protecting people’s dreams and aspirations.
- In the 2nd edition of the organ donation drive, ETLI has widened its scope by investing in educating people and aims to gradually make organ donation a subject that is extensively discussed within the social circles.
- ETLI hopes to make a tangible and real-world impact by extending educative as well as economic support.
Dr. Sunil Shroff said:
- Since MOHAN Foundation’s inception, the rate of organ donation has gone up but not what we aimed for. Changing people’s thought process takes time but it is possible to achieve the increased rate of organ donations in India.
- By 2025, the rate of organ donations in India would become higher, 4 to 5 per million population.
- The biggest barriers to effective and increased organ donation are in our society and hospitals. In societies, lack of awareness, cultural myths and misinformation are the chief barriers. In hospitals, maintaining brain deaths, identifying and certifying brain deaths are the big barriers.
- The ongoing pandemic has set back the cause of organ donation as containing COVID-19 has been a priority for all those involved in public welfare, be it hospitals or the government. This phenomenon is not limited to India but has happened across the world. So, such awareness initiatives are much more important in the current scenario to ensure that we keep moving forward in this journey irrespective of the external situation reflect and consolidate our achievements of the recent past to build a stronger program for the future.
Mr. Rahul Bose said:
- It is very important to make our youths understand what we are asking? They can be a strong voice and real ambassadors for organ donation.
- We need to rationalize and demystify our youths on organ donation.
- The deepest lesson which COVID-19 has taught us is to move forward together. We should all work together for this cause to achieve effective organ donations in India.
Mr. Abhishek Gupta said:
- Organ Donation is a lifesaving cause and it is a big issue in our country but still less conversations are happening towards this cause. Through the 2nd edition of the organ donation drive, ETLI aims to get this negligence of our society towards organ donation into the limelight.
