By: Meena R. Prashant
Despite being the second most populated country in the world, India faces acute shortage of organs for transplantation. As per the statistics from Fortis Organ Retrieval and Transplant, five lakh people die annually across the country due to non-availability of organs. While 36 persons per million of population donated organs in Spain in 2014, 35 donated in Croatia, 27.02 donated in the United States, and only 0.34 donated in India.
Mr. B.S. Chilana and his wife, Namita also find this scenario abysmal and depressing. “Very few people in India, till date, have much knowledge about organ donation, or how they could help people waiting for organ transplants,” says Namita.
Eager to spread awareness on organ donation, the duo decided to undertake a unique initiative: A road trip from Mumbai to London covering 23,000 Km; 15 countries and spreading awareness along the way.
How it all began
Mr B S Chilana, a resident of Kharghar, Navi Mumbai was leading a happy life when suddenly his wife, who was just 50, passed away due to brain haemorrhage in 2012. Inspite this irreparable loss, Mr. Chilana decided to donate his wife’s cornea. “I wanted to donate her kidneys as well. But I could not, as I later learnt that the kidneys of a deceased person cannot be donated,” he says.
Even before he could overcome his wife’s loss, his daughter, Priya Shah (38), was diagnosed with a kidney disorder and was advised by doctors in London for a transplant.
“There was complete darkness and my life was shattered as I realised that now my daughters’ life was at risk,” recalls Mr. Chilana. Luckily, his son-in-law, Jaideep Shah (38) came forward and donated one of his kidneys.
Since then, Mr. Chilana decided to dedicate his life in spreading awareness about organ donation and joined hands with MOHAN foundation, an NGO working towards spreading awareness about organ donation.
Spreading awareness across boundaries
Mr. Chilana re-married to Namita in early 2018 who whole heartedly supported him in his endeavor. “My passion and desire towards this cause is whole heartedly supported by my wife and it was she who encouraged me to take our mission beyond boundaries,” says Mr. Chilana.
“I wanted Mr. Chilana to spread awareness not only in India but across the world,” says Namita. The duo then decided to take a road trip from Mumbai to London and reach out to many along the way.
The road trip
The 23,000 Km road trip from Mumbai to London was flagged off by Rotary Club of Navi Mumbai Sunrise, RI District 3142 on 27th April, 2018 and will be completed in three months. 15 countries- Nepal, China, Kyrgystan, Uzbek, Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, France and UK- will be covered along the way.
Mr. Chilana will be spending around Rs 25 lakh but, the amount, he feels, is negligible, if he is able to “convince people to save precious lives by donating organs and give life after death.”
