Indian Organ Donation Day 2025 Celebration Held – Organ Transplant Facility Being Established At Civil Hospital Aizawl

Aizawl, Aug 2025:The State Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) Mizoram, under the Directorate of Hospital & Medical Education, observed the 15th Indian Organ Donation Day at the DHME Auditorium, which was graced by the Health & Family Welfare Minister, Pi Lalrinpuii, as the Chief Guest.

In her address, Minister Pi Lalrinpuii highlighted this year’s theme “Organ Donation – Life Saving Campaign: A Gift of Life”, emphasizing that organ donation is a noble act of giving life to others even after death. She mentioned that this reflects God’s grace and the blessings of extending life beyond one’s own. She expressed concern that, in India, the demand for organ transplants is very high while the availability remains significantly low, which is equally true for Mizoram.

Citing data from the National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), she informed that in India, for every 2.5 lakh patients requiring organ transplants annually, only about 5,000 organ donors are available. The situation is worse for heart transplants, where only around 1,500 patients find suitable donors, and for lung transplants, where out of 5,000 patients annually, only about 200 get a matching donor.

The Minister underlined the importance of organ donation and stated that efforts are underway to strengthen healthcare facilities in Mizoram to enable organ transplantations. She informed that under the supervision of SOTTO Mizoram, steps are being taken to initiate organ transplant services at Civil Hospital Aizawl, with collaboration and an MoU being established with renowned institutions like the Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre, Ahmedabad.

During the event, Dr. Lalthlengliani, Principal Director, Health & Family Welfare Department, spoke about the journey of the Organ Donation Life Saving Campaign in Mizoram. Dr. Joseph Lalhmachhuana, Nephrologist at Synod Hospital, Durtlang, emphasized the critical need and significance of organ donation. Dr. Catherine Lalmuanawmi, State Nodal Officer, NP-NCD, discussed the impact of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and stressed the importance of spreading awareness among both potential organ donors and recipients.

As part of the observance, awards were presented to the Top 3 winners of a specially organized Reels competition. The program concluded with a pledge-taking ceremony for organ donation led by Dr. S.R. Ngurchamliana, Director of Hospital & Medical Education.

SOTTO Mizoram has been established at the State level under the National Organ Transplantation Programme (NOTP), supported by the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, to facilitate a more robust and systematic approach towards organ donation and transplantation in the state.