Organ Donation Awareness for NSS Programme Officers of University of Madras

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  Dr. Vaneeta Aggarwal delivering the welcome address

  

  Dr. Hemal Kanvinde addressing the audience

  

  Ideas for organising competitions for students

  

  Writing poetry, blog, articles

  

  A NSS Programme Officer asking a question

  

  Q&A session and closing remarks

  The National Service Scheme chapter of the University of Madras, in association with MOHAN Foundation, conducted the ‘Inclusion of Organ Donation Awareness Program’ for its Programme Officers on 25^th February 2021. The objective of the virtual programme was to educate the NSS Programme Officers about organ donation and transplantation and ways in which their respective institutions and students could contribute to the cause. Dr. Vaneeta Aggarwal, the NSS Coordinator, University of Madras was instrumental in organising this event, which was attended by close to 80 NSS Programme Officers of various colleges affiliated to the University.

  The events began with a rendition of the Tamilthai Vazhuthu, followed by Ms. S Bavadhaarini a NSS volunteer, welcoming the audience. Dr. K Kalpana Devi, NSS Programme Officer of the DG Vaishnav College, in her formal welcome address, highlighted the importance of organ donation and why it is the need of the hour. Dr. Vaneeta spoke about the role of NSS in promoting a cause like this and the contributions they should be making.

  Ms. Ishwarya Thyagarajan, Research Associate of MOHAN Foundation was the first speaker at the event. She elaborately explained the key concepts related to organ donation and transplantation. The following were the highlights of her talk:

  • Organ failure and causes
  • Types of donors 
  • Brain death and its causes
  • Organ and tissue donation while living, after natural death and brain death
  • Age criteria in organ donation
  • Time factor
  • Hand and uterus transplants
  • The transplant law of the country
  • Organ donation in Tamil Nadu
  • Transplant centres in Tamil Nadu and registering for a transplant
  • Voluntary body donation
  • National and global statistics
  • Myths and superstitions

  Dr. Hemal Kanvinde, the Foundation’s Quality Assurance Officer spoke on engaging students and volunteers for organ donation awareness initiatives. She gave the following creative recommendations:

  • Setting up information kiosks in public places
  • Using inspiring donor/recipient stories during public interaction
  • Lighting up landmark buildings of states green, as a tribute to organ donors on occasions like Organ Donation Day
  • Signature campaigns involving celebrities
  • Awareness for focused communities – nurses, police, bus and auto drivers
  • Organising art, rangoli, poster designing competitions
  • Displaying exhibits like the Life before Ashes and Nafas series in places with good footfall
  • Organising street plays, rallies, marathons

   The enthusiastic and attentive audience appreciated the presentations and asked the below questions:

  • What can be done in case of someone passing away while travelling?
  • What is success rate of transplantation in Tamil Nadu?
  • What is to be done when someone passes away at their residence?
  • How are organs allocated?
  • How do international patients get organs?
  • How to help convince parents of students who decide to sign up as organ donors?

  Dr. Kanvinde briefly spoke about the Organ Donation Ambassadors' training programme as well. A lot of Programme Officers were motivated to conduct awareness talks in their respective colleges in collaboration with the Foundation, which Dr. Vaneeta mentioned was highly promising, in her closing remarks. Dr. Kanvinde thanked her for organising the event and the opportunity to reach out to a great number of people.  Ms. Bavadhaarini thanked the speakers, Programme Officers and Dr. Vaneeta for the wonderful session.

  
  
  Source-Ms. Ishwarya Thyagarajan