On January 10, 2025, the Division of Organ Transplant at AIIMS Rishikesh, in collaboration with MOHAN Foundation, conducted an awareness session on organ donation for the Trauma Emergency staff. This session was the fifth in a series aimed at sensitizing nursing officers at AIIMS Rishikesh to the critical importance of organ donation.
The session was led by Mr. Sanchit Arora, Project Leader at MOHAN Foundation stationed at AIIMS Rishikesh, with support from Mr. Deshraj Solanki and Mr. Vrishabh Panchal, Transplant Coordinators at the institute. Participants included nursing staff from the Department of Trauma Emergency and Critical Care.
The session began with an introduction to MOHAN Foundation, highlighting its mission and objectives. Mr. Arora delivered a detailed presentation on organ donation, addressing key topics such as:
• The significance of organ donation and donor eligibility.
• Differences between living and deceased donors.
• Organ donation processes during life and after death.
• Brain death versus coma.
• Procedures for declaring brain death.
• Eye and skin donation, including corneal preservation steps post-death.
• An overview of the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994.
• Living kidney transplantation facilities at AIIMS Rishikesh.
• Steps individuals can take to support organ donation.
• Myths and facts about organ donation.
• The roles of nursing officers in the organ donation process.
Mr. Arora emphasized the urgent need for organ donation in India, encouraging participants to discuss the subject with their families, friends, and colleagues to foster greater awareness. He also recommended watching the film Aye Zindagi, available on Zee5, to gain further insights into the topic.
Mr. Solanki provided an in-depth explanation of the hospital’s in-house brain death committee and donor optimization protocols. He shared a recent organ donation case at AIIMS Rishikesh, offering practical examples to illustrate the process.
The session was highly interactive, with participants raising several pertinent questions, such as:
• Should the ventilator be turned off after brain death declaration?
• What is the role of a nursing officer in organ donation?
• What critical findings are essential for diagnosing brain death?
• Who is legally authorized to certify brain death?
• What is the essential condition to conduct the apnoea test safely?
Participants also suggested that the emergency contact details of transplant coordinators should be readily accessible in every ward. This would facilitate timely reporting of potential brain-dead patients and ensure prompt action.
Approximately 10 nursing officers attended the session. They expressed appreciation for the session, acknowledging its value in enhancing their understanding of organ donation, its significance, and their ability to contribute effectively to this noble cause.
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