Doha, June 19, 2012: The organ donation campaign in Qatar received a boost with the pledge of 23 members of the Nandi Association, a Keralan Indian socio-cultural forum in Qatar, to donate their organs after death as a way for the Indian community to give back to their host country. The pledge for organ donation was given during Nandi’s celebration of its Annual Day on 15 June at Gulf Cinema 2. The event was attended by more than 1,000 members of the Indian community in Qatar, and was graced by dignitaries including Her Excellency the Indian Ambassador Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa. Ambassador Wadhwa lauded the donors, thanking them for their wonderful gesture and saying this was an extremely honorable thing to do. She also lauded the organ transplantation system in Qatar which ensures that organs are given to whoever needs them, irrespective of whether they are Qataris or non-Qataris, whatever their religion and wherever they come from. “This is such a wonderful contribution of the Indian community here in Qatar, to say we live in Qatar and we want to give back to Qatar because we are able to live here and to be accepted by the people here,” said Ambassador Wadhwa. Each of the 23 donors signed an Acknowledgment of an Organ Donation by Will after Death, which authorizes Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) to utilize any of their body organs capable of transplantation to a living person who needs it and is expected to benefit from its transplantation. Dr Riadh Fadhil, Senior Consultant of Urology and Transplant Surgery at HMC received the pledges on behalf of HMC. Thanking the donors and the Indian community, Dr Fadhil said, “We have learned from our experience in life that Indian expatriates wherever they are in the world represent one of the most solid communities in these societies. We believe that this is one of the noblest causes that you are gathering to celebrate today – the donation of life. It is donation of organs after death, but it is replacing death with life. Instead of our organs turning into dust, it will be transformed into lives.” “I have worked in different countries in organ transplantation, but Qatar has one of the most human organ transplantation and donation regulations, under which Qatari and non-Qatari, nationals and expatriates in need of organs for transplantation are given the same treatment. We are not only striving for the best in terms of treatment and facilities, but we are also ensuring that the organs of any deceased donor will go to the first patient on our waiting list, regardless of religion, nationality or race,” said Dr Fadhil. Dr Fadhil added, “I think for the Indian community and all the expatriates in Qatar, this is the best way to give back – to donate your organs after death to save multiple lives. And by all religions, this is one of the best things that you can do in your life that will be rewarded by God.”

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