As part of the World Liver Day observed on 19th April, Bollywood actor and humanitarian Sonu Sood has joined hands with Aster Volunteers, the global CSR programme of Aster DM Healthcare to encourage people to be aware of the alarming rate of rising liver disease cases in India and take proactive efforts to manage their liver health. Liver failure due to unavailability of viable organ donors is one of the main causes of death from liver disease. Through the initiative 50 underprivileged children in need of liver transplants will receive the needed care at Aster Hospitals’ Multi-Organ Transplant Centre located at Aster CMI and Aster RV Hospitals in Bangalore, and Aster Medcity and Aster MIMS Hospital Calicut in Kerala, India.

In India, liver disease claims 200,000 lives every year, while only 1500-2000 transplants are conducted every year, 10% of which are for children. One of the key reasons is the inability to afford the high costs associated with transplant cases. In addition to this, limited universal healthcare access and limited availability of viable donors for transplant are major challenges.

Speaking on the initiative, Dr. Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman and Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare said, “Aster, while providing life-saving treatments like organ transplants, has been at the forefront of giving back to the society. It is an unfortunate reality that lifesaving treatments like Liver transplants are expensive and unaffordable to those in dire need. In association with Sonu Sood, who is very actively involved in philanthropic initiatives, our objective is to raise awareness and seek support from like-minded people for this noble cause. We intend to provide free and subsidized Liver transplant surgery to 50 children from the underprivileged population in this campaign.”

On supporting Aster Volunteers’ efforts to provide for the liver transplant of 50 underprivileged children, Bollywood Actor & Humanitarian Sonu Sood said, “I happened to come across some of the phenomenal work Aster DM Healthcare has done through Aster Volunteers. It is amazing to see the large number of philanthropic activities taken up by Aster Volunteers and I am glad to support the cause.”

Aster Hospital’s newly launched Multi-Organ Transplant centre is a multi-institutional and multidisciplinary centre designed to provide the best transplant experience. The centre is officiated by a skilled team of surgeons with technical expertise in performing different types of transplants including Liver, Kidney, Heart, Lung, Cornea and Bone Marrow Transplant. The centre also has one of the largest paediatric liver transplant programme in entire South India.