The Shahid Dharmabhakta National Transplant Centre (SDNTC), Ministry of Health and Population, Government of Nepal, invited MOHAN Foundation (MF) to conduct the first national training for transplant coordinators from June 24–25, 2024. Dr. Pukar Chand Shrestha, Executive Director, SDNTC, took the initiative to organise the training. Ms. Pallavi Kumar, Executive Director of MF, NCR, and Dr. Muneet Kaur Sahi, Programme Manager of MF, NCR, were the invited faculty. During the training, Dr. Niru Sharma, Dental Surgeon and Transplant Coordinator at SDNTC, handled the logistics.
The Nepal Transplant Act, enacted to regulate and facilitate organ transplantation in the country, aims to ensure ethical practices, protect donors and recipients, and enhance the overall transplant ecosystem. Despite the legislative framework, there remains a critical need for skilled professionals to manage and coordinate transplant activities effectively. The recent amendments to the Human Body Organ Transplantation Act (HBOTA) in 2016 enabled brain death donations, marking a significant step forward. However, donation rates still remain low. The first national training for transplant coordinators, organised by the Shahid Dharmabhakta National Transplant Centre in collaboration with the MOHAN Foundation, addressed this need by equipping coordinators with the necessary knowledge and skills.
The training was a two-day CME on the role of transplant coordinators and grief counselling, attended by 51 participants from 20 government and private transplant and teaching hospitals. The training included nurses and nursing supervisors, dialysis technicians, medical officers, and transplant coordinators. Some of the government hospitals that participated included the National Trauma Centre, Bir Hospital, TU Teaching Hospital, and SDNTC. Private hospitals such as KMC, Madhyapur, Nepal Medicity, and Norvic International also took part.
The training encompassed an agenda tailored to the needs of the participants. Ms. Pallavi Kumar led the following sessions:
• A to Z of Organ Donation: The presentation covered everything from the basics of organ donation to the complexities of the transplant process.
• A no is not always a no: Understanding the reasons behind initial refusals can help in addressing concerns and potentially turning a no into a yes.
• Grief Counselling and making the Ask: effective grief counselling is crucial in sensitively approaching families for organ donation consent during their time of loss.
• Implementing a Deceased Donation Programme in a Hospital: Establishing a deceased donation program involves creating protocols, training staff, and ensuring legal and ethical standards are met.
Dr. Muneet Kaur Sahi conducted the following sessions:
• Creating Public Awareness on Organ Donation: Raising public awareness about organ donation involves using tools like social media campaigns, educational workshops, community events, informational brochures, and media coverage to educate and inform people, ultimately increasing donor registration and support for transplantation initiatives.
• Role of a Transplant Coordinator: A transplant coordinator manages the entire transplant process, from donor identification and consent to recipient matching and post-transplant care.
Legal aspects of organ donation and transplant (HBOTA) Nepal was conducted by Mr. Harihar Pokhrel, Section Officer Member, Legal Committee, SDNTC, Nepal.
Short videos and movies, such as those explaining brain death, exploring public perceptions on organ donation, and demonstrating both effective and ineffective approaches to counselling families for organ donation, were shown during the training sessions.
Apart from the sessions, many activities were undertaken that broke the monotony of the teaching sessions, bringing together all the participants in engaging discussions, networking opportunities, and practical exercises. A few of the activities that were conducted were: stakeholders’ involvement, effective communication, and organ donation pathway card activities. All the activities aimed to enhance cooperation and communication among participants. Through engaging in various tasks together, attendees could cultivate essential teamwork skills vital for the coordinated efforts necessary in organ donation and transplantation processes.
The training came to an end with the closing ceremony. Dr. Pukar gave an overview of Nepal's organ donation and transplant activity, as well as the importance and role of transplant coordinators. A documentary film titled “Punarjanma” on brain death organ transplant produced by SDNTC was also shown. Dr. Kalpana Shrestha, the Head of the Department of Nephrology and National Coordinator of the Brain Death Donor Programme, attended the closing ceremony. Dr. Muneet and Ms. Pallavi received traditional Nepali felicitations.
Overall, the training was comprehensive and highly beneficial, receiving positive feedback from participants who appreciated its value in enhancing their capabilities in organ donation coordination and grief counselling.
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