Organothon on August 5

Guwahati: The rate of organ donation in India is among the lowest in the world - 0.5 per million. In Assam, it is worse.

Eminent transplant surgeon Dr Sarbeswar Sahariah said this while announcing Organathon '18, to be organised by city-based Zublee Foundation here on August 5.

This will be the second edition of the run, which aims to spread awareness on organ donation. The first edition was held on August 6 last year.

Besides Dr Sahariah, the media conference held at Guwahati Press Club was attended by singer Zublee Baruah, the managing director of Nemcare super-speciality hospital Dr Hitesh Baruah, music composer J.P. Das, former Mr Universe Mahadev Deka and Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) councillor Sasanka Jyoti Deka.

Around 500 people, including the film and music fraternity, bureaucrats and prominent citizens are expected to participate in the run. It will start from Geetanagar Field at 5.30am, proceed to Matgharia and return to Geetanagar Field through Zoo Road tiniali.

The run will be followed by a live performance by singers Zubeen Garg, Joi Baruah and Zublee.

An online poster-making and digital sculpture competition will also be held as a part of Organothon. Registrations are open from May 1 to July 31.

Sahariah said, "Zublee Foundation is doing a commendable job in spreading awareness about organ donation, which is easy to talk about but hard to do. About 7 to 8 lakh people require organ transplant and 90 per cent of them do not survive because of lack of organs. India has one of the lowest rate of organ donation at 0.5 per million. The scenario in Assam is worse. Compared to this, in a small country like Spain the rate is 35 per million. It is an irony that around 1,50,000 people die of road accidents in India every year. Most of the victims are young and free of disease, making them ideal for organ donation. If this gap is covered, the picture will change in the country. The first few donations are important to spread the message. Organs from one person can save the lives of nine others. I yearn to see the day people in Assam will receive organs from others here and lead a longer life."

Sahariah is the chief adviser of Zublee Foundation and vice-chairman of KIMS hospital in Hyderabad. He has performed 3,500 living and 200 cadaver organ transplants till now.