Armed Forces Offrs, Others Pledge Organs for Donation

New Delhi, Apr 14 (UNI) In a unique ceremony, Armed Forces officers and other dignitaries pledged their organs for donation at Army Hospital (R&R) here today.

Among others, Nikita Anand and Gul Panag -- both former Miss India, Mrs Shyama Chona -- Principal DPS, RK Puram, New Delhi, Mr Ajit Bajaj -- the first Indian to conquer the North and South poles, and eminent media personality Col Ajai Shukla -- besides senior Army doctors -- also pledged their organs.

Another unique initiative undertaken on the occasion by the Army doctors was in the form of the launching of the Armed Forces Organ Retrieval and Transplantation Authority (AORTA).

AORTA aims to increase awareness of organ donations, organ retrieval and transplantation. The efforts of this Authority will be coordinated by Col (Dr) AK Seth, an eminent super-Specialist who has vast experience of organ transplantation.

Very recently, Maj Vipin Chaudhary agreed to donate the organs of his mother who died following brain haemorrhage at Army Hospital (Research&Referral). The liver was transplanted, for the first time, at Army Hospital (R&R) into a serving soldier, one kidney into a serving officer, another kidney into an 18-year-old and the two eyes into suitable recipients.

This selfless gesture gainfully affected the lives of five families and served as an inspiration to others. To acknowledge the noble deed done by Maj Chaudhary, he was felicitated during today's ceremony.

On this occasion, Director General Medical Service (Army) Lt Gen Saibal Mukherjee lauded the efforts of the Army Hospital and all others associated with these initiatives.

UNI