PANJIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday pledged to donate his organs as part of a pan-India programme launched by the BJP’s medical cell at the party headquarters here.

Sawant signed an online application pledging to donate his kidneys, liver and cornea and he was immediately given a pledge certificate.

Speaking to reporters, Sawant said that he has pledged to donate his kidneys, liver and cornea as part of the drive. People should come forward to donate organs to save lives, he said.

The Chief Minister said the Goa government had so far held four successful organ harvesting programmes, which have helped the patients in the State and also outside the State to have a new lease of life. Soon, an eye donation bank would be inaugurated in the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Bambolim while liver and heart transplants would also be started in the State within a short span of time.

The Chief Minister said that organs can be donated by anyone, who is above 18 years of age, by signing the online application. He also appealed to the people to come forward and pledge to donate organs, which will save lives in the future.

“There is a growing need for kidneys and 46 patients in Goa are waiting for kidneys to be donated to them for transplant,” said Sawant.

He added that many patients are on dialysis and require organs and that many kidney dialysis centres are opened across the State, the Chief Minister said that everyday one person is put on dialysis in the State.

When asked why he pledged to donate only three organs and not his other organs like heart and lungs, Sawant said, “I have pledged to donate kidneys, liver and cornea. I am not donating my heart because Goa is in my heart.”

To this, BJP’s medical cell convenor Dr Shekhar Salkar quipped, “He (Sawant) has kept heart for his better half.”