Organ Donation Walkathon Hosted by Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh to Boost Life-Saving Consciousness
In a significant stride towards raising awareness about organ donation, India witnessed its largest organ donation awareness walkathon in 2025. The event, prominently held by Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh, attracted over 500 participants who carried banners and placards advocating for organ donation.
The walkathon was the brainchild of Dr. Naresh Kumar Goyal, Principal Director & HOD of Cardiology at Fortis Hospital - Shalimar Bagh. He emphasized the urgency of increasing awareness on organ donation in India to save lives. The event was also supported by Lions International and Charak Heart Foundation, key social bodies dedicated to building awareness and supporting families who wish to donate.
The walkathon, a part of Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh's ongoing commitment towards community outreach and patient education, particularly in areas of organ donation, took place early Saturday morning. It began at the hospital premises and culminated with a certificate distribution to the participants and a pledge ceremony where hundreds vowed to register as organ donors.
Other significant events included rallies and walkathons by government hospitals and organizations across states like Tamil Nadu, Tripura, and Assam. Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, organized a rally with about 400 students on National Organ Donation Day, highlighting their leadership in facilitating kidney transplants and promoting honor walks for brain-dead donors. ROTTO, Guwahati, Assam, conducted a walkathon at the Guwahati Medical College premises to spread awareness ahead of the 15th Indian Organ Donation Day.
The government and state authorities in Tripura also held a walkathon flagged off by the Chief Minister at Amrakunja on the occasion of Organ Donation Day to encourage citizens. These initiatives have led to a measurable increase in public awareness and registrations for organ donation. Tamil Nadu leads the country with the highest number of registered donors, with over 268 donors in 2024.
Despite progress, the need remains high as thousands are still waiting for transplants, and many die daily without getting an organ. Ongoing initiatives focus on encouraging registrations on official transplant authority portals, promoting awareness through walkathons, rallies, and educational campaigns by hospitals and NGOs, honouring brain-dead donors via ceremonial walks to generate social respect and support for organ donation, and participating in international events like the World Transplant Games by Indian transplant recipients to raise visibility of the organ donation cause.
Together, these efforts show a nationwide, multi-organizational movement involving government hospitals, private institutions, NGOs, medical colleges, and state authorities, aiming to increase organ donation awareness, registrations, and ultimately save lives across India.
- The walkathon organized by Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh extended its reach to health and wellness domains, discussing the importance of organ donation in conjunction with skin care and treatments for conditions like psoriasis.
- Integrating science and medical advancements, Fortis Hospital also highlighted the role of innovative therapies and treatments in alleviating chronic diseases such as chronic kidney disease and chronic respiratory conditions.
- As part of the event, nutritionists educationally demonstrated healthy diets essential for maintaining eye health and proper skin care.
- In collaboration with Lions International and Charak Heart Foundation, Cannabidiol (CBD) therapy discussions were initiated, shedding light on its potential benefits for treating various skin conditions.
- The event also emphasized the need for rigorous education on health topics, not only limited to organ donation but encompassing all aspects of health and wellness, including the understanding of medical-conditions and the importance of proper nutrition.
- Many sponsors and educational institutions pledged to support ongoing efforts in increasing awareness of organ donation, focusing on the importance of education in various sectors like business, news, and opinion, to boost the initiative's visibility.
- In addition to successful events nationwide, twenty-nine global health organizations participated in a symposium focused on organ donation and its impact on chronic medical conditions like chronic kidney disease and respiratory conditions.
- Post-event evaluations disclosed encouraging results with a significant increase in organ donation registrations across the nation, as well as a growing number of people adopting healthier lifestyles that promote better skin health and eye health.
- Celebrating the momentum generated by these efforts, Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh announced its next venture: a series of workshops and webinars focused on various aspects of health and wellness, aiming to motivate citizens to achieve improved overall health and save lives.
