On July 24, 2024, AIIMS Rishikesh conducted an organ donation awareness session at the Department of Medical Lab Technology, Pt. Lal Mohan Sharma Campus, Rishikesh, in collaboration with the MOHAN Foundation. The invitation was extended by Mr. Gulshan Kumar Dhingra, Dean of Science and Coordinator of Medical Laboratory Technology at Pt. L.M.S. Campus, Rishikesh. The session was also attended by Mr. Gopal Narang, Charter Member of Lions Club Rishikesh Devbhoomi, and Mr. Vijay Goyal, a former Irrigation Officer.
Dr. Harshit Agarwal, Senior Resident in the Department of Urology at AIIMS Rishikesh, and Mr. Sanchit Arora, Project Leader at the MOHAN Foundation based at AIIMS Rishikesh, were the speakers for the session.
The session was attended by staff and students from the MLT and MSc Microbiology departments.
Dr. Agarwal began by discussing the complexities of advanced clinical procedures in organ transplantation and expressed concerns about the availability of organs for these procedures. He provided a comprehensive overview of the current status of organ donation in India, covering the following topics:
• The necessity of deceased organ donation
• Kidney transplant waiting lists in Asia
• The number of renal transplants performed in Uttarakhand
• The relationship between religion and organ donation
• The Transplantation of Human Organs & Tissues Act 1994.
• Advantages of transplant surgeries compared to alternative treatments
• Recent advancements in transplant procedures
• The living kidney transplantation facility at AIIMS Rishikesh
• Frequently asked questions by patients’ families
• Green corridors for organ transportation
Mr. Arora discussed the inclusivity of organ donation, emphasizing that individuals of any race, religion, ethnicity, or age can become donors. He provided examples such as Sh. Tej Ram, Trustee of Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi, who at 88 years old became India's oldest organ donor, and a 70-hour-old baby at PGIMER whose kidneys were donated in February. He also explained eye and skin donation, including how these donations can be made at home and the steps families should follow if a death occurs at home.
Mr. Arora gave an overview of the need for organ donation, explaining who can donate and what organs can be donated. He used a video presentation to elucidate the concept of brain death and addressed common perceptions and myths surrounding organ donation. He also detailed how to register and pledge for organ donation after death and displayed the MOHAN Foundation's helpline number.
Emotional videos were strategically interspersed throughout the discussion to promote organ donation and foster an emotional connection with the audience. Finally, Mr. Arora emphasized the importance of proactive family discussions about organ donation to facilitate smoother decision-making when critical situations arise.
The session was highly interactive, with participants actively contributing to the discussion and posing numerous questions, such as:
• What is the total cost of a kidney transplant in public and private hospitals?
• Is blood group compatibility important for organ allocation?
• What is the maximum age limit for skin donation?
• Is a death declaration essential for corneal donation?
• If one registers to pledge for organ donation today, I can never change my mind?
At the end of the session, participants applauded the efforts of AIIMS Rishikesh and the MOHAN Foundation. Many expressed their intention to discuss organ donation with their families and make pledges.
Approximately 70 participants attended the session
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