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World Organ Donation Day 2025 observed globally on August 13 with the theme “Answering the Call.

Important Days | Dated: 15 Aug 2025

World Organ Donation Day 2025 was observed across the globe on August 13 to commemorate the first successful organ transplant in 1954. The day aims to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation, encourage voluntary pledges, and promote life-saving transplants.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - World Organ Donation Day is marked annually on August 13 worldwide to honour the breakthrough in medical history — the first successful living donor kidney transplant performed in 1954. The observance reinforces the need for public participation in organ donation to address the global shortage of organs for transplantation.
  • - The 2025 theme, “Answering the Call,” highlights the urgency of responding to the increasing demand for organ transplants and the role individuals can play in saving lives. It also calls for removing myths and stigma surrounding the process of organ donation.
  • - The world’s first successful living donor kidney transplant was carried out in 1954 by American surgeon Dr. Joseph E. Murray and his associates at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital (now Brigham and Women’s Hospital) in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. This historic achievement paved the way for modern transplant medicine.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) The pioneering transplant involved identical twins, Ronald and Richard Lee Herrick. Ronald donated one of his kidneys to Richard, who was suffering from chronic kidney failure. The genetic match between identical twins helped reduce organ rejection risks during that era.
  • (ii) Dr. Joseph E. Murray, along with American physician E. Donnall Thomas, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1990 for their groundbreaking discoveries in organ and cell transplantation, which have saved millions of lives globally.
  • (iii) Organ donation continues to be a pressing healthcare need, with WHO (World Health Organization) reporting that thousands die each year waiting for a transplant. Days like World Organ Donation Day aim to boost donor registrations and support policy frameworks for ethical, equitable organ distribution worldwide.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

World Organ Donation Day 2025 was recently observed globally on which date?

Correct Answer: August 13

🚀 Quick Recap: