5 lac people in India die every year due to unavailability of organs needed for transplantation. The awareness about the value of organ donation needs to be conveyed louder to the ears of society.
At the same time, it is indeed a privilege to give a round of great applause to the family members who have helped many to breathe a new life by consenting to donate the organs of their beloved ones who have passed away.
More than 80 family members of 32 donors who donated their vital organs in KMCH were felicitated for their act of benevolence.
Through the program, Life After Life – the family members of donors were appreciated on 4.8.2019 in the KMCH Auditorium.
The family members had expressed their feelings on consenting to donate organs of their beloved. They stressed the viewers about the value of organ donation and suggested them to check their health occassionally. They thanked KMCH for talking to them to donate organs and save lives of others.
KMCH, with the support of donors, has transplanted the organs to needed patients successfully. The Recipients also thanked the family members of donors and KMCH for giving them a second life.
K.Rajamani, District Collector, Coimbatore was the Chief Guest and Dr.R.Kanthimathy, Member Secretary, TRANSTAN was the Guest of Honor.
Dr.B. Asokan, Dean, CMCH, Coimbatore was the Special Guest. Dr.Nalla.G.Palaniswami, Chairman, KMCH presided over the function. 
Dr. Paari Vijayaragavan, Liver Transplant Surgeon, KMCH welcomed the gathering.
N.Selvaraghavan, Head of Anesthesia Dept, KMCH conveyed about the number of donations and transplants that took place in KMCH over the years.
Dr. Nalla G.Palaniswami delivered the Presidential Address. He thanked the donors and their family members, and a special thanks to government authorities who have been instrumental in helping the lives of people who required transplantation.
He proudly said that Tamil Nadu is the only state in India to do organ transplantation in a fair and transparent manner. He appreciated the immense support given by TRANSTAN . At that moment, he lauded the magnanimous free organ transplantation procedures done in CMCH and mentioned that whatever assistance CMCH needs in transplanting organs, KMCH will happily help.
He said KMCH is the hospital that does highest number of Renal Transplants in India and the procedures done are ethical. He urged that the need for creating positive awareness among society by individuals and media is much needed.
A Handbook about Organ Donation was released during the event. The first copy was released by the collector and it was received by Dr.R.Kanthimathy.
K.Rajamani in his Chief Guest Address said Tamil Nadu is a state that leads by being a role model in all fields, and its progress in medicine and healthcare is outstanding.
He said, “when the world says that a person cannot live, a donor’s family says we can make them live”.
He said for the patients, doctors help like Gods and now, the donors and donor’s family appear like Gods to them for the invaluable contribution that has been made in saving lives.
He said Tamil Nadu Government is taking great steps to support the public in medicinal and healthcare needs.
He said that the donor family have been asking the govt to provide financial assistance and this is already in the ears of the government. He assured that he’ll represent the people once again and take it to the ears of govt.
Dr.Kanthimathy mentioned that for a family member of the deceased,it is really a tough and difficult to decide on donating the organs of a dear one who has died a few mins ago. She congratulated the family members of the donors for their valuable decision to donate. She stated that Donors’ family are the real heroes.
She stated that now there are options to donate tissue, bones, skin, tendons, ligaments. She stated that transplant co-ordinators in hospitals perform a difficult job and they have to be available 24/7.
She congratulated the role played by neurosurgeons and neuro physicians who are important in identifying the patient’s state of life- either brain dead or alive.
She asked them not to be hurt by the negative opinions propagated by anti-social elements. She asked the public to have faith in Tamil Nadu Government as it oversees organ transplantation and donation activites keenly and in a fair manner.
She said that when she looked at the statistics of donations and transplantations done in KMCH from 2008 to 2018, she was amazed. She appreciated KMCH for successfully performing a combined Kidney Liver Transplant and said that it is not easy to perform such a procedure.
Dr.B.Asokan said that Tamil Nadu has earned the first prize for doing maximum successful donation and transplantation but over the years the number has fallen short due to negative info being circulated in some media.
He said there are several difficulties in organ transplantation, mostly logistics. The organs cannot be stored for long and it needs to be transplanted immediately. For this to happen, proper identification of people in waiting should take place, proper preparation of the recipient should be done. There are so many people involved and the coordination should be outstanding for this to take place.
He stated that government is giving a lot of support for people through the CM’s comprehensive Health Scheme. He wished that the media takes the valuable message of organ donation to public. He appreciated KMCH for organising such an event.
The donors’ family members were honored by the dignitaries and the event ended with a Dr. Maheshwaran Pitchaimuthu, Transplant Surgeon, KMCH proposed the Vote of Thanks.