On July 10, 2024, the MOHAN Foundation was invited to conduct an organ donation awareness session at Sheffield International School in Roorkee, in collaboration with the Lions Club Rishikesh Devbhoomi. The invitation was extended by Mr. D. K. Sharma, Director of Sheffield International School, Roorkee. Mr. Sanchit Arora, Project Leader at MOHAN Foundation based at AIIMS Rishikesh, served as the speaker for the sessions.

There were two sessions: the first for the school bus drivers, attended by 30 participants, and the second for the staff and senior secondary students, attended by 70 participants.

The session commenced with Sanchit inviting participants to share their knowledge about organ donation. He then elaborated on the current status of organ donation in India, covering various topics in detail with the help of a PowerPoint presentation. The following topics were explained:

• What is organ donation and why it is important

• Who can be an organ donor

• Explanation about live and deceased donors

• Organs that can be donated during life and after death

• Brain death

• Differences between coma and brain death

• Eye donation, skin donation, and steps required to preserve corneas after death

• Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994

• Whole body donation

• Living Kidney Transplantation facility at AIIMS Rishikesh

• Myths and facts about organ donation

• How individuals can contribute to this noble cause

• Goals and objectives of MOHAN Foundation & Anudaan initiative

• MOHAN Foundation’s 24/7 Helpline Number

Later, Sanchit summarized the urgent need in this field, encouraging the participants to discuss organ donation with family, friends, and colleagues.

In the second session, students became interested in this cause when they learned that Mr. D. K. Sharma, their Director, had pledged his corneas upon his death.

A participant mentioned that he had already registered for whole body donation, while another shared that he had consented to donate his mother's corneas after her death.

Overall, the session was highly interactive, with participants enthusiastically contributing to the discussion and posing numerous queries. Some of the questions raised included:

• Can a person below 18 years of age pledge for organ donation?

• How long after brain death is organ donation possible?

• If someone is declared brain dead, how much time does the family have to decide whether to proceed with organ donation?

• Is it possible to donate the organs of a person who has been on a ventilator for more than six months?

At the end, the participants of both sessions applauded the work of MOHAN Foundation. They expressed their intention to speak with their families and pledge for organ donation.

Close to 100 participants attended the sessions, and 2 bus drivers registered to pledge their organs after death.