Steadfast Joins Hands To Create Awareness About Organ Donation And Encourage People To Sign Up As Organ Donors

Jyothi Venkatesh

Steadfast Consortium is striving to encourage people to donate their healthy and precious organs after demise to save lives through their heartwarming initiative #phirsezindagi campaign, on the occasion of Organ Donation Day celebrated on 13th August, every year. Amongst the Team Steadfast so far, 40 employees have signed up for pledging their organs in support of the noble cause. Moreover, the athletes associated with Steadfast Nutrition are also coming forward to motivate people while appreciating the initiative that includes Ms. Sweta Gulati, TV actress & Fitness Enthusiast associated with the brand.More than half a million Indians are estimated to be in dire need of an organ transplant. Every year 5 lakh Indians lose their lives waiting for organs. Yet, less than a thousand Cadaveric donation (from a deceased donor) transplants are performed each year. That’s a life lost every minute, since  there aren't enough donors. The need-gap of organs and recipients is increasing day by day.

Nationally, with a population of 1.3 billion people, the statistic stands at 0.08 people as organ donors per million population (PMP). This is an incredibly small and insignificant number compared to the statistics around the world.Speaking about the thought and inspiration behind this initiative, Aman Puri - Director, Steadfast remarks, ‘This is a very serious concern which does not get enough attention. So, it is our corporate social responsibility to raise awareness about the criticality of the issue with doing our best in what we can for those in need of organ transplants. I am thankful to my team who has already begun to be a part of the donation process through this initiative, and we intend to inspire others to do the same.’Speaking on the occasion, TV Actress Sweta Gulati says, “It’s actually one thing to talk about organ donation, and totally different to actually be a donor. Let’s all join this movement of Steadfast and make people aware of the importance of being an organ donor. Let’s all come together, donate our organs and make a difference.”

The #phirsezindagi initiative commenced on August 7^th 2020 with an interactive awareness session by Dr. Muneet Sahi and team, from Mohan Foundation, a large and most trusted online organ donation platform. Dr. Muneet Sahi who is a medical professional with rich and varied experience in public education, counselling and mass media diffusion delivered a one and half-hour-long presentation to the mass talking about the crucial points on Organ Donation. It was followed by a Q&A session & witnessed the participant load of almost 100 across the Nation, which was quite an engaging number for a webinar. Impressed by this initiative, she said, ‘This initiative by Steadfast Consortium is one of its kind and will help save the lives of many along with providing a new ray of hope to those in need of organ transplants.’

#FirSeZindagi is a campaign that aims at starting a wave of change and to create the necessary buzz around the need for organ donation in India. Through strong social media presence and audience reach, #phirsezindagi aims to spread awareness about the importance of organ donation with motivating the maximum of the population to pledge & donate organs after death.

Moreover, an organ donation pledging program is scheduled on 13th August which will be conducted under the guidance of Dr. Vimal Bhandari, Former Director of NOTTO (National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization), Dr. Suresh Badhan Former Consultant Coordination of NOTTO (National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization) & team.In its quest to encourage the initiative all over the country a few renowned athletes from India have selflessly joined this Noble cause. Like Rohit Shetty , Mr Asia, 2019 (International Bodybuilder), (not the blockbuster filmmaker and the flamboyant daredevil Khatron Ke Khiladi host) Mahesh Shelat (Personal Trainer), Suraj Karkera (Indian Hockey Player) and Sweta Gulati (TV actress & Fitness Enthusiast)