A training for volunteers to become Organ Donation Ambassador was conducted online on June 08, 2024. The batch 29 was a group of 10 enthusiastic individuals who interacted on a zoom platform with experts. The participants underwent a Gratitude Workshop, learnt how to make a presentation and means of reaching to the public and cleared all their doubts. 

Session 1: Self introduction

The Module 2 training started with a short recap of the Training and expectations by Dr Hemal Kanvinde, and the participants introducing themselves. 

Session 2: Interaction with the experts

The second session was interactions with experts from the field of donation and transplantation.

The experts were:

1.      Dr. Yuvaraj Bhosale, Dept of Anatomy, Topiwala National Medical College and Bai Yamunabia Lakshman Nair Charitable Hospital, Mumbai

2.      Dr. Nagraj Naik, Consultant nephrologist, SDM College of Medical Science & Hospital, Hubbali

3.      Mrs Mayuri Barge, Transplant Coordinator, Ex DY Patil Medical College and Hospital Pune

4.      Ms Bharati Ranga, Kidney Recipient, Mumbai;

5.      Dr. Sunil Shroff, Managing Trustee, Dr Hemal Kanvinde Q&A Officer MOHAN Foundation Chennai and Ms Ishwarya T ex MOHAN Foundation Bengaluru 

The Ambassador discussed the following points:

1. Procedure for body donation, embalming procedures, registration and need for body donation and reasons for refusal for accepting a body donation.

2. Financial aid for organ transplant, the reason for high costs of the surgery, how does the government help for transplants

3. Grief counseling, how it affects the transplant coordinator, importance of two way interactions with the family

4. Disfiguration of donor body after retrieval of organs

5. In case of an emergency transplant can an unrelated person donate to save a life.

6. Lifestyle changes due to organ failure, mental health and changes in life after a transplant.

Session 3: Gratitude Workshop

Gratitude Workshop conducted by Ms. Ishwarya T, Bengaluru. Using a presentation she spoke about a  donor family and the feelings of a recipient.  She asked the candidates to write as if they have received an organ and wish to express their gratitude to the donor families. All letters were read out during the session and Ms. Ishwarya shared her views on them. With the participants expressing their feelings the session turned out to be an emotional session.

 Session 4: Creating Awareness

Dr Hemal Kanvinde exposed the candidates to the various ways of creating awareness to the public, from small group talks to rallies.  She gave examples of online and offline ways of creating awareness. She asked the ambassadors to share their presentation after completion, so she could fact check and suggest corrections.

The training ended with a  feedback from the candidates.