Going beyond journalism and writing stories, Santosh Andhale has successfully transformed his knowledge for working in health beat into a working for the people suffering from various illnesses.

After starting his career in a regional newspaper in 1999, from the day 1, Santosh has reported stories in health beat. Working for major media groups like Times Group, DNA Newspaper, now being a senior Editor at My Medical Mantra, he is taking ahead his love for health beat in an unique way. 

Initiating a movement for organ donation, Santosh has started a campaign called as ‘Save Aradhya,’ for a little girl who is suffering from heart ailment and needs a heart for heart transplant surgery. 

Santosh said, “Working as a journalist for health beat, I usually get attached to the patients and just writing about them in my stories and news report, I always wanted to help those who share their problems with me. ‘Save Aradhya’ is a similar experience wherein a parent approached me to help them with their daughter suffering from heart ailment.”

“I usually help them with the different trusts who fund for such expensive surgery. With Rs 22-25 lakh being the expense for the surgery, I helped the couple in gathering the amount and Dr Vijaya Agrawal from Fortis was also ready to operate on Aradhya when we realised that we don't have heart for the transplant,” he further added.

Aradhya is not the only girl, but there are many who are in dying need of the organs and Santosh’s main motive is to spread awareness regarding organ donation. 

Right from eyes to heart to kidney among others, it is important for people to understand the importance of organ donation and more and more people should come ahead to donate the same. 

International scholarship holder from ‘The United states of America  for International Visitor Leadership Program’ for his stories in health beat, Santosh said, “Aradhya is one examples of many who need organ donation. Gathering money is now a secondary aspect for such donations, but organ donation is what important. With change in technology, scientific development and availability of doctors, now organ transplants are possible, therefore people should realise the value of organ donation and come ahead for the same.”

He added, “Many people used to give up before, due to unavailability of specialist doctors or technology. Now, as everything is available it is important to spread awareness about organ donation.”

Santosh is also known in the media for his truthful and heart wrenching stories in health beat. One of those being ‘How people are waiting for organ donation.’

He said, “Organ donation is my weak point and therefore I have started this movement to spread awareness. I have been also supported by my friends and a known personality in this movement.”

One can help Aaradhya in following ways:

• Hospitals can identify Brain Dead child in their paediatric ward.
• Encourage Organ Donation.
• Counseling Parents for Organ Donation.