Catholic priest's kidney federation launched

The Kidney Federation of India - an initiative of a Catholic prelate who donated his own kidney to an ailing Hindu - was officially launched Friday, Oct. 30, in Thrissur by popular playback singer K.J. Jesudas.

An initiatve of Fr Davis Chiramel, the federation purposes to serve patients with renal failure including children and youth who are in dire need of medicines, financial assistance or kidney donors.

At his inaugral address, Jesudas, a recepient of Padma Bhushan award, quoting the Bible urged - "Let those who have two give one to those who have none".

Hundreds attended the function including Kerala health minister P.K. Srimathi, Speaker K. Radhakrishnan, several film personalities and politicians, according to SAR News

The Kidney Federation of India was born on Sept. 20, the same day when doctors surgically transplanted one of Fr Chiramel's kidneys into Gopinathan Chakkamadathil, a Hindu suffering from a kidney-related ailment for over a year.

Fr Chiramel earlier said the kidney donation was a God-given chance to preach through deeds than words.

His federation now aims to support at least 10 kidney patients with Rs. 200,000 assistance for transplant each year. It also has plans to create a kidney data bank by collecting consensus letter from relatives of persons who are willing to donate their kidneys.

The primary objective of the federation, according to its website, is to encourage people, especially the relatives of the patients, to donate kidneys.