On November 6, 2024, the MOHAN Foundation conducted a meaningful awareness session on organ donation for a group of DTC bus drivers attending a refresher course at the DTC Training School, Nand Nagri Depot, Delhi. Since May 2023, the Foundation has actively worked to educate DTC drivers and conductors on the importance of organ donation.
The session was led by Ms. Simran Anand and Ms. Sania Santosh, Program Officers at the MOHAN Foundation, with support from Mr. Sameer Khan, an enthusiastic intern committed to the Foundation's mission. Together, they engaged the drivers, sparking curiosity and discussion around the life-saving potential of organ donation.
Ms. Simran Anand opened the session by introducing the MOHAN Foundation. To break the ice, she asked if any participants had volunteered as organ donors. One participant responded enthusiastically, sharing that he had registered as a cornea donor 10 years ago. Ms. Anand then asked if anyone had recently applied for a driver’s license. Although none had, she explained that the MOHAN Foundation had successfully helped introduce an option for new license applicants to declare themselves as organ donors, serving as one of the key stakeholders instrumental in persuading the government to adopt this initiative.
With this engaging start, Ms. Anand proceeded to cover the basics of organ donation in clear, accessible terms. She introduced the concept of "brain death" with a video and covered several key topics, including:
• What is brain death?
• Eye donation and steps to preserve corneas after death
• Overview of the Human Organ Transplantation Act of 1994
• Role of the MOHAN Foundation
• How individuals can contribute to this noble cause
• Dispelling myths about organ donation
• Differences between coma and brain death
She also shared a recent eye donation case in which the Foundation’s representatives were honored by the donor’s family at the donor’s prayer ceremony. This case, coordinated by the Foundation's counselors, was received through the 24x7 helpline. To close the session, Ms. Anand presented case studies involving both donor and recipient families, leaving participants with a deep appreciation for the significance of organ donation
Approximately 63 participants attended the session.