Families in Kozhikode’s Badiroor village unite for organ donation

In a model grassroots initiative, Badiroor, a village located nearly 16 km from Kozhikode city, has launched a community-wide campaign to promote organ and body donation. The effort, coordinated by the EMS Charitable Society in Kakkodi grama panchayat, marks a new model of civic and family participation in health and humanitarian efforts.

With the slogan “A step towards the greater model of humanity,” the campaign aims to encourage as many residents as possible to pledge their organs — and, where possible, their entire bodies — for medical purposes after death. 

In the first phase of the initiative, around 100 residents within a two-km radius have signed consent forms to donate various organs. Among them, 24 individuals have expressed willingness to donate their bodies to Kozhikode Government Medical College, making Badiroor a standout example of collective action in organ donation.

Retired Circle Inspector Prakashan Poothaledath, president of the EMS Charitable Society, is among the first to lead by example. He, along with his wife Shyni, brother Pradeepan, and sister-in-law Lasitha, has signed consent forms for both organ and full-body donation to the medical college. According to him, the aim is to prepare as many families in the village as possible for this noble cause.

“The initiative will be meaningless if we do not have the cooperation of family members or relatives from the very beginning. In our project, we have ensured the support of the donors’ families at every level to make it a unique one,” says Mr. Prakashan. He adds that all the families who have exchanged consent letters are now aware of the complete procedures and are committed to cooperating in the future.

Support has also come from local administrators. Kakkodi grama panchayat member N. Prameela, along with her husband Suresh and 22-year-old son Druvan, has pledged to donate their organs. Mr. Druvan is the youngest among the 24 people who have expressed willingness to donate their entire body to the medical college after death.

“We want to create greater public awareness through our own actions in the field. The biggest satisfaction is that we have received consent letters from many families, including parents and children, making this a model for others,” says Ms. Prameela, whose daughter Soorya Gayathri is also preparing to submit her consent letter. She points out that no other local body has witnessed such extensive family participation for this cause.

On October 5, an awareness session was held at Badiroor for residents who exchanged consent letters with the authorities. Dr. M.P. Apsara, Head of the Department of Anatomy, Kozhikode Government Medical College, and Dr. Binoj Panekkattil, Assistant Professor of Nephrology, led the sessions, which were inaugurated by Kakkodi grama panchayat president K.P. Sheeba. Mentalist Arun Lal also presented his show “Chat with Mind” in support of the cause.