THE Department of Health (DOH) and the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) is looking to beat two more Guinness World Records, this time in signing up the most number of people as organ donors.
Speaking at a press conference at the NKTI in Quezon City, DOH – Philippine Network for Organ Sharing (Philnos) Program Manager Dr. Antonio Paraiso said that the country will be looking to beat the existing records currently held by India on February 28.
"We will have a campaign specifically the attempt to establish a new world record for Guinness on the most number of people signing up as an organ donor on February 28," said Paraiso.
The record for the one-hour, single site record was set just last September 17 in Prakash Gurjar & Madadgar Parivar in Gujarat, India after amassing a total of 2,755 people.
On the other hand, the existing record for the eight-hour, single site was also set in Sir Chhotu Ram Stadium in Haryana, India after 10,450 individuals signed up to be become organ donors back in December 1.
Paraiso said that they are confident that the attempt to beat existing records is not impossible.
"I believe the Philippines, as a Christian nation, should be able to actually outdo a non-Christian country, like India," said Paraiso.
The attempt will come on the heels of the successful attempt of the indigenous religious group Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) to topple records on the largest charity walk done in one site, and the most number of participants in a worldwide walk in multiple sites.
Apart from beating the two existing Guinness World Records, the DOH also said the event will also attempt to set new records for having most number of organ donors registered in one-hour, multiple sites and eight hours, multiple sites.
These sites are at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Sta. Mesa, Manila; Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City; RTMC in San Fernando City, La Union; L. Mamba Gym in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan; JMR Coliseum in Naga City, Camarines Sur; and Almendra’s Gym in Davao City, Davao del Sur.
The activity will simultaneously start at 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. for the one-hour category in all participating venues while the eight-hour category will also begin at nine in the morning on the same day and run until 5 p.m.
Paraiso said the activity aims to raise awareness in the country on the benefits of organ donation.
"We are simply asking the people to pledge; to leave a legacy that in the event they die in such a manner, their organs can be used for transplantation," said Paraiso. (HDT/Sunnex)