On August 3, 2024, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh, observed the “14th Indian Organ Donation Day” with a comprehensive public awareness program as part of the “Angdaan Jan Jagrukta Abhiyaan” organized by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) under the Ministry of Health, Government of India. The event was a collaborative effort among the departments of Urology, Nephrology, Gastroenterology, and Surgical Gastroenterology at AIIMS Rishikesh, in association with the College of Nursing and the MOHAN Foundation.
The day's events began with a flag march and a 5km walkathon on Astha Path, near the sacred Ganges in Rishikesh. The procession was led by Professor Meenu Singh, Executive Director of AIIMS Rishikesh. The event saw active participation from key faculty members, including Dr. Sanjeev Mittal, Medical Superintendent of AIIMS Rishikesh, Dr. Ankur Mittal, HOD of the Department of Urology, Dr. Rohit Gupta, HOD of the Department of Gastroenterology, Dr. Nirjhar Jha, HOD of the Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Dr. Sharon Kandari, HOD of the Department of Nephrology, Dr. Neeti Gupta, Associate Professor of the Department of Ophthalmology, and Prof. Smriti Arora, Principal of the College of Nursing.
The walkathon also involved resident doctors, nursing staff, and administrative staff from all four departments. Additionally, MBBS and nursing students participated alongside Mr. Sanchit Arora, Project Leader at the MOHAN Foundation stationed at AIIMS Rishikesh. Participants engaged in flag hoisting and slogan-raising activities to promote awareness about organ donation among the public. More than 150 people joined the walkathon, effectively spreading the vital message of organ donation to the wider community.
At 10 AM, following the walkathon, a public awareness session was held in the waiting area of the Urology OPD. Dr. Ankur Mittal delivered the welcome address, emphasizing the importance of promoting deceased organ donation. The program included the felicitation of five donors and five recipients of renal transplants, showcasing success stories from AIIMS Rishikesh as inspiring examples of the positive impact of organ donation and transplantation. Dr. Kandari provided an awareness talk on organ donation to OPD and IPD patients, their attendants, hospital staff, volunteers, and participants, offering valuable insights into the benefits and procedures involved.
A street play (nukkad natak) on the theme of deceased organ donation was performed by the nursing students of the College of Nursing, AIIMS Rishikesh, in collaboration with the MOHAN Foundation. This play effectively conveyed important messages about the need for organs and the process of transplantation, sensitizing approximately 100 participants present in the OPD, and highlighting the significance of brain death and organ donation.
Dr. Ankur Mittal informed the audience that AIIMS Rishikesh had successfully conducted its first deceased organ donation on August 1, 2024. This donation saved the lives of three people and restored sight to two others. He urged everyone to come forward, discuss organ donation with their families, and pledge to donate. At the conclusion of the program, 12 nursing students and 6 patient attendants registered for organ donation on the NOTTO website.
Additionally, at 12 PM, a poster-making competition was organized at the College of Nursing, with around 10 nursing students participating. The top three winners were announced, and prizes and certificates were distributed after the competition. This competition encouraged nursing students to creatively express the need for organ donation and its significance to society.
The program concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Mittal, expressing gratitude for the collaborative efforts of the organizing committee, the College of Nursing, the MOHAN Foundation, and all attendees.
Overall, the public awareness program on the “14th Indian Organ Donation Day” at AIIMS Rishikesh was a resounding success, effectively promoting awareness and engagement in organ donation.
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