2 days ago
Govt honours ‘selfless' contributions of 24 organ donors
Bhubaneswar: State govt on Wednesday conferred 'Suraj Samman' on 24 organ donors posthumously on the occasion of Organ Donation Day. A cash reward of Rs 5 lakh each was received by family members of the awardees.
Health minister Mukesh Mahaling presented the awards after paying homage to the organ donors and their immediate family members. "Enlivening others in the aftermath of one's death through organ donation is a higher order of noble acts," he added.
Mahaling said that because of the noble acts of the family of the donors, Odisha was honoured at the national level as an emerging state in organ donation. "Your donations have not only saved the lives of others but also brought honour to our motherland, Odisha," he added.
Health secretary Aswathy S said one organ donor can save the lives of eight persons in critical condition. Even one organ donor, through tissue donation, could give life or help around 50 people. She expressed her gratitude to the organ donors on behalf of the people.
Among the awardees was 37-year-old Soumya Ranjan Behera, who was admitted to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar after suffering a brain stroke last month.
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After he was declared brain dead, his family members donated his kidneys and liver, which saved the lives of three patients. "After doctors and other hospital staff made us understand about organ donation, we wished to donate the organs of my son. At that time, we thought that my son could save three lives," said Soumya's mother, Janha Behera.
Out of the 24 awardees, 5 were from Khurda district, 4 from Gajapati, 3 from Kendrapada, 2 from Rayagada, and one each from Angul, Balasore, Bhadrak, Koraput, Mayurbhanj, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Cuttack, Nayagarh and Jharsuguda districts.
The award was instituted in 2020 in memory of Suraj Behera, whose parents promoted voluntary organ donation by donating the vital organs of their deceased son. Commemorating their humanitarian act, the Suraj Samman is presented to organ donors and organisations promoting organ donation in the state on Aug 13 every year.
The last rites of the organ donors are also performed with state honours in recognition of their and their families' selfless contributions.
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