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Dr. Sunil Shroff's Mission: Inspiring 2.5 Million Indians to Pledge Organ Donations
Dr. Sunil Shroff, a pioneering renal transplant surgeon, has profoundly impacted India’s organ donation landscape. After facing international criticism over kidney transplant scams in India, Dr. Shroff returned from the UK and founded the MOHAN (Multi Organ Harvesting Aid Network) Foundation in 1997. His organization aims to educate and empower individuals to pledge organ donations, significantly increasing awareness and support for deceased organ donation across the country.
In a pivotal moment early in his career, Dr. Shroff performed one of India's first deceased organ donations on a 12-year-old boy who had died from a cobra bite. This surgery, conducted at Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute (SRMC & RI) in Chennai, involved harvesting two kidneys, a heart, and two corneas, saving five lives. This remarkable procedure was published internationally, marking the beginning of Dr. Shroff’s dedicated mission to promote deceased organ donation in India.
As the founder of the MOHAN Foundation, Dr. Shroff has spearheaded efforts to train medical professionals, counsel grieving families, and establish robust systems for organ retrieval and transplantation. His foundation has issued over 2.5 million donor cards, counseled more than 12,000 families, and sensitized approximately 250 million people on the importance of organ donation. Additionally, MOHAN Foundation has trained over 4,000 grief counselors and 61,000 medical professionals.
India faces a significant shortage of organs, with 10 lakh people suffering from end-stage organ failure annually, but only 16,041 receiving life-saving organs. The foundation's work is crucial in addressing this gap, particularly with the support of laws like the Transplantation of Human Organs & Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994, which recognizes brain death as legal death and prohibits commercial dealings in human organs.
Despite challenges such as poor infrastructure, lack of awareness, and the high cost of transplantation, Dr. Shroff remains committed to his cause. He believes that increasing trust in the healthcare system will encourage more Indians to donate organs. Dr. Shroff’s contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, and his appearance on the popular TV show "Kaun Banega Crorepati" further boosted awareness and support for organ donation.
Dr. Shroff’s dedication to this cause exemplifies his deep commitment to saving lives and fostering a culture of generosity and compassion in India. His efforts continue to inspire millions to become future organ donors, reflecting his belief in the inherent giving nature of the Indian people.
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