| Father Davis Chiramel |
A Catholic priest has inspired people from various religions to join a movement that encourages voluntary kidney donations.
Five people, including multi-millionaire Catholic businessman, offered their kidneys for poor patients at a press conference in Kochi Jan. 17.
Kochouseph Chittilappilly, the businessman, told ucanews.com Jan. 18 that Father Davis Chiramel, founder president of the Kidney Federation of India, inspired him with his example.
In 2009, the Trichur archdiocesan priest donated one of his kidneys to a Hindu renal patient. He later launched the federation to encourage voluntary kidney donation.
Chittilappilly said he was severely “challenged” to find a kidney for a relative some time back. “Then I found a great role model in Father Chiramel and decided to donate my kidney after convincing my family,” he added.
He has agreed to give his kidney to Joy, a poor tailor.
“I can live healthy with one kidney,” Chittilappilly said and added, “We have to return what we have received from God. It’s the only way to make the world better.”
Joy’s wife Jolly, told ucanews.com that she has promised to donate her kidney to Shamsudeen, a Muslim youth.
His wife Sainaba would donate her kidney to John, a Catholic youth, and his mother Jessy would give her kidney to a Hindu.
Father Chiramel told ucanews.com today his movement has started the world’s first kidney donation chair.
“We have started a kidney bank and are trying to convince more people to join it,” the priest said. The chain is also promoting communal harmony, he claimed.
The priest said he is leading a normal healthy life after the donation. “I travel widely and attend meetings,” he added.
Beena Vijayan, a government official, termed the priest’s mission as a divine act. “He has become a saint by a noble sacrifice. We should support him,” she told ucanews.com.
Sebastian Paul, former Member of Parliament, said the priest has given hope to hundreds of poor kidney patients. “I see God In him,” Paul added.
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