On July 30, 2024, the MOHAN Foundation (MF) conducted a virtual organ donation awareness session for employees of the Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology - Institute of Petrochemical Technology (CIPET - IPT), Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India. Organized by the Dr. Reddy Foundation for Health Education (DRFHE), this session was part of a series planned for the week for their corporate social responsibility (CSR) partners during Organ Donation Month. It was part of the “Angdaan Jan Jagrukta Abhiyaan,” an initiative by the National Organ & Tissue Transplantation Organization (NOTTO), Ministry of Health, Government of India.

Ms. Simran Anand, Programme Officer at MOHAN Foundation, Delhi NCR, served as the speaker of the session, which was attended by employees from five zonal offices of CIPET - IPT: Lucknow, Raipur, Baddi, Chennai, and Mysuru.

Ms. Anand was welcomed by Mr. Mohammad Gesudaraz, Operation Coordinator, DRFHE, who also served as the moderator of the session. She began by assessing participants' understanding of organ donation and then explained the concepts of organ donation and transplantation using a PowerPoint presentation. To clarify the critical concept of brain death, she used a short, informative film, which served as a visual aid in explaining the medical and legal aspects of declaring brain death.

The session covered a range of essential topics in detail, including:

• What organ donation is and why it is important

• Who can be an organ donor

• Explanation of live and deceased donors

• Brain death and establishing brain death

• The Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994

• What can be donated in cases of brain death and circulatory death

• Differences between coma and brain death

• Eye donation and steps required to preserve corneas after death

• Whole body donation

• Contraindications to organ donation

• The role of the MOHAN Foundation

• Myths and facts about organ donation

• How individuals can contribute to this noble cause

• Volunteer training programs

Ms. Anand emphasized the importance of pledging to become an organ donor and the vital role of family conversations in this process. She outlined various ways participants could contribute to promoting and supporting the cause of organ donation.

At the end of the session, Mr. Prateek Tripathy, Awareness for Life (AFL) Partner, Dr. Reddy Foundation for Health Education (DRFHE), thanked Ms. Simran Anand for her informative presentation and urged the participants to consider the noble cause of organ donation. By doing so, one can make a profound difference and leave a lasting legacy of generosity.

Approximately 100 participants attended the session.