On September 27, 2024, MOHAN Foundation conducted an awareness session titled “Beyond Life: The Gift of Organ Donation Awareness Initiative” for second-year Bachelor of Technology students at NorthCap University (NCU), Gurugram. The session was organized by Ms. Kanika Gupta, Assistant Professor at the School of Engineering and Technology, and Dr. Parul Khanna, Assistant Professor at the School of Management and Liberal Studies, in collaboration with the Youth Red Cross Club, NCU. Dr. Muneet Kaur Sahi, Programme Manager of MOHAN Foundation (MF) NCR, served as the resource person, accompanied by Ms. Sanya Santosh, Program Officer, MF Delhi NCR.

Dr. Parul introduced the session, after which Dr. Muneet led the discussion on organ donation. She began by assessing the participants' understanding of organ donation, and then explained the concepts of organ donation and transplantation through a PowerPoint presentation. Key topics covered included:

• What is organ donation and its importance

• Who can be an organ donor

• The distinction between live and deceased donors

• Brain death and the process of establishing brain death

• The Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994

• Organs that can be donated in cases of brain death and circulatory death

• Eye donation and how to preserve corneas after death

• Contraindications to organ donation

• The role of the MOHAN Foundation

• How individuals can contribute to this noble cause

• Myths and facts about organ donation

• The difference between coma and brain death

Students became particularly engaged when they learned that Dr. Parul, their professor, had pledged to donate her organs upon her death.

To encourage interaction, Dr. Muneet asked participants questions such as:

• Can a person donate a kidney to a friend?

• Is a brain-dead person considered alive or dead?

• Can individuals who pass away due to circulatory death donate their organs?

Dr. Muneet also highlighted the increasing rates of organ failure due to the rising prevalence of high blood pressure and diabetes.

The session concluded with a thought-provoking note: after death, a person's body is either cremated or buried, and both the body and its organs are lost. Why not choose to donate organs after death and save lives?

Close to 50 participants attended the session.