On the occasion of World Kidney day, 14th March, 2019, Bengal Organ Donation Society in association with Bimal Karmakar Foundation and Bellevue Clinic, organized a Walkathon from Minto Park to Victoria. The main aim: to raise awareness about organ donation, particularly deceased organ donation.
The early morning of 14th March, 2019 saw the gathering of around two hundred eager faces, which included doctors, nurses, medical staff, as well as civilians. Eminent Nephrologists Dr. Pratim Sengupta and Dr. Arpita Roy Chowdhury, Critical Care Specialists Dr. Saurabh Kole and Dr. Indrajit Tiwari, Social Activists Mr. Sujit Chakraborty, Mr. V.M. Swami, Mr. Viresh Shah, Advocate Mr. Supriyo Majumdar, many other doctors and representatives from all over Kolkata and surrounding areas, as well as people from several other NGOs like Manavjyoti Charitable trust, SAMSA, Kidney Care Society, Bagbajar Medical Welfare Society and others participated in the walk.
Many enthusiastic medical students also came to take part in the walk, side by side participating in the slogan competition that was to be held at the end of the march.
After distribution of posters, caps and water bottles, the march began, slowly but surely heading towards the designated end point.
The morning crowd watched, some enquired with curiosity about the solemn yet determined stance that the poster bearers held- asking more about what is deceased organ donation?
Around 9:15AM the crowd reached Victoria, and after a brief formation of a human infinity the march came to an end. Several prominent News outlets had gathered to hear the speakers and organizers about the walk. One of the main organizers of the event Dr. Saurabh Kole in his interview with a prominent local news outlet, spoke of the vast difference between the demand and supply of organs in today’s scenario and how one way to bridge the gap is to promote and support deceased organ donation at large.
It might be only a small step, but it surely is one step forward towards spreading the word in support of deceased organ donation, and letting people know about the problems therein, while helping each other towards finding a solution and walking towards a brighter future.