On June 23, 2023, the MOHAN Foundation (MF) conducted a session on organ donation for the bus conductors of DTC at DTC Training School, Nand Nagri Depot, Delhi. These conductors were undergoing refresher training at the centre. The MF Delhi team had been conducting organ donation awareness sessions for the bus drivers and conductors of DTC since May 2023. Ms. Simran Anand, Programme Officer, MF Delhi office, was the resource person for the session. She was accompanied by Mr. Sanchit Arora, MF Intern.
Ms. Simran began the session by explaining the need for organ donation in India and international statistics on organ donation so that the audience could understand how India is lagging behind other countries with an organ donation rate of less than one per million people. She also explained the myths and facts about organ donation to dispel the participants misconceptions and inaccuracies. Ms. Simran then explained the concept of organ donation with the help of a PowerPoint presentation. The following topics were explained in detail:
• The importance of organ donation in society
• When and how does organ donation take place?
• Organs that can be donated during life and after death
• Transplant waiting list in India
• Brain death
• difference between brain death and coma
• Role of police in deceased organ donation
• Role of the MOHAN Foundation
• Myths and facts about organ donation
• Eye donation
• How to pledge for organ donation
• Green corridor
Throughout the session, the participants frequently posed questions. To name a few.
• What is the difference between coma and brain death?
• What is the time frame for transplanting organs?
• What is the process of transplantation in government hospitals?
• Why is the cost of a transplant so high?
• What is the procedure for pledging for organ donation?
One participant shared his family’s experience with his father's eye donation after his death. He explained all the procedures for the eye donation to the participants and motivated them to do the same.
Close to 73 participants attended the session.